Recent Advances in Catalytic Pyrolysis of Municipal Plastic Waste for the Production of Hydrocarbon Fuels

Abstract

Currently, the resources of fossil fuels, such as crude oil, natural gas, and coal, are depleting day by day due to increasing energy demands. Nowadays, plastic items have witnessed a substantial surge in manufacturing due to their wide range of applications and low cost. Therefore, the amount of plastic waste is increasing rapidly. Hence, the proper management of plastic wastes for sustainable technologies is the need of the hour. Chemical recycling technologies based on pyrolysis are emerging as the best waste management approaches due to their robustness and better economics. However, research on converting plastic waste into fuels and other value-added goods has yet to be undertaken, and more R&D is required to make waste-plastic-based fuels economically viable. In this review article, the current status of the plastic waste pyrolysis process is discussed in detail. Process-controlling parameters such as temperature, pressure, residence time, reactor type, and catalyst dose are also investigated in this review paper. In addition, the application of reaction products is also described in brief. For example, plasto-oil obtained by catalytic pyrolysis may be utilized in various sectors, e.g., transportation, industrial boilers, and power generation. On the other hand, byproducts, such as solid residue (plasto-char), could be used as a road construction material or to make activated carbon or graphenes, while the non-condensable gases have a good potential to be utilized as heating/energy source.

Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics to High Value‐Added Products via Pyrolysis: Current Trends, Future Perspectives, and Techno‐Feasibility Analysis

“…Sustainable aviation fuel is a kind of jet fuel produced from waste materials and can potentially lower emissions by up to 80 %. [102] It is one of the most significant products of the contemporary day that can be obtained from discarded plastic, and several research studies have been conducted on it in the most recent years [103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118] analyzed the synthesis of aviation fuel and hydrogen by catalytic pyrolysis utilizing activated carbon and magnesium oxide on waste polymers. Catalyst implantation was necessary for LDPE pyrolysis, and the pyrolytic volatiles was then treated with MgO and then biomass-derived activated carbon (BAC) to provide molecules rich in hydrogen (H 2 ) and jet fuel (JF).…”

Influence of Catalyst on the Yield and Quality of Bio-Oil for the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass: A Comprehensive Review

“…The physicochemical characteristics, quality, and yield of pyrolyzed products (e.g., bio-oil) can all be greatly impacted by pyrolysis process parameters [104,105]. The performance and quality of the product are significantly influenced by several factors, including raw materials, reactor type, temperature, additives, catalysts, residence time, and pressure [106]. Bio-oil has a particularly difficult set of physicochemical characteristics due to the abundance of oxygenated organic functionalities that are present in it, and this bio-oil is transformed through extreme secondary upgrading into, for example, transportation fuels [107].…”

Coke Formation and Zeolite Catalyst Effects on Products from Co‐pyrolysis of Waste Tyre and Poplar Wood in a Semi‐Batch Reactor under N2 Atmosphere

“…Syngas can also be purified or reformed to increase its calorific value and quality. [ 23 ] Pyrolysis can be enhanced or modified by using different technologies, such as microwave‐assisted pyrolysis, pyrolysis under non‐inert ambiances, hydrothermal carbonization (wet pyrolysis), or integrated pyrolysis techniques. These technologies can increase the efficiency, selectivity, and quality of the pyrolysis products.…”

“…A promising solution for dealing with issues related to waste management, energy security, and reducing the use of fossil fuels is co‐pyrolysis of biomass and tyres. [ 21,23,24 ]…”

“…A promising solution for dealing with issues related to waste management, energy security, and reducing the use of fossil fuels is co-pyrolysis of biomass and tyres. [21,23,24] Co-pyrolysis of waste tyre and solid biomass results in synergistic effects that can enhance the quality of the products. [25] The hydrogen to carbon (H/C) ratio of plastic waste, including tyres, is notably high, whereas the oxygen to carbon (O/C) ratio is relatively low.…”