The conversion of waste polystyrene into useful hydrocarbons by microwave-metal interaction pyrolysis

Current state and future prospects of plastic waste as source of fuel: A review

“…One distinctive feature in MAP is the application of microwave power on polymer materials, which is converted into heat at a fast rate. It is possible to raise the reaction temperature up to 1000 1C in a short period of time in MAP using microwave absorber, usually carbon material or metal [67]. The study on MAP started as early as 2001, when Ludlow-Palafox and Chase [65] pyrolyzed the HDPE and toothpaste packaging, which was a combination of aluminum and PVC.…”

Resource recovery from synthetic polymers via microwave pyrolysis using different susceptors

“…S4(c) in Supplementary data), aluminum resulted in second highest oil yield. Hussain et al [48] studied microwave pyrolysis of polystyrene using aluminum of different sizes and shapes as a susceptor, and proposed that temperature rise was not only due to absorption of microwave by aluminum, but also due to a cascade of reflections of the microwaves by the metal. As aluminum used in this study was in the form of a fine powder, it is possible that the incident microwave energy is both absorbed and reflected by the small particles, which leads to high heating rates.…”

“…As aluminum used in this study was in the form of a fine powder, it is possible that the incident microwave energy is both absorbed and reflected by the small particles, which leads to high heating rates. Moreover, it is quite possible that traces of oxygen entrapped in the reactant mixture can react with aluminum at high temperatures and form aluminum oxide, Al 2 O 3 , which acts as a catalyst in the transformation of PP [48]. It is known that alumina imparts acidity and acts as a solid acid catalyst in the cracking of long chain hydrocarbons [49,50].…”

Polymer Degradation Under Microwave Irradiation

“…The group of Khan investigated pyrolysis of waste polystyrene in a metal coil reactor using aluminium as antenna and heat-generating material [73]. Temperatures as high as the melting point of aluminium were obtained in the microwave oven.…”