Abstract
The world is today faced with the problem of plastic waste pollution more than ever before. Global plastic
production continues to accelerate, despite the fact that recycling rates are comparatively low, with only
about 15% of the 400 million tonnes of plastic currently produced annually being recycled. Although
recycling rates have been steadily growing over the last 30 years, the rate of global plastic production far
outweighs this, meaning that more and more plastic is ending up in dump sites, landfills and finally into
the environment, where it damages the ecosystem. Better end-of-life options for plastic waste are needed
to help support current recycling efforts and turn the tide on plastic waste. A promising emerging
technology is plastic pyrolysis; a chemical process that breaks plastics down into their raw materials. Key
products are liquid resembling crude oil, which can be burned as fuel and other feedstock which can be
used for so many new chemical processes, enabling a closed-loop process. The experimental results on
the pyrolysis of thermoplastic polymers are discussed in this review with emphasis on single and mixed
waste plastics pyrolysis liquid fuel.
Introduction
Today we can take preventative measures to reduce our use of plastic, but it's also important to address
the issue of plastic waste that already exists. By implementing recycling programs and finding innovative
ways to repurpose plastic, we can help eliminate the risk that used plastic poses to the environment.
Pyrolysis is a process of heating organic matter in the absence of oxygen to break down the material into
smaller, simpler molecules. This process can be used to break down plastic waste into its constituent
chemicals, which can then be used to create new products such as fuel. So in this way we can utilize
plastic trash for making fuel, ultimately reducing the plastic waste.
Hypothesis
Here's a hypothesis: Pyrolysis has the potential to significantly reduce plastic waste by breaking down
plastics into smaller molecules, which can then be used for fuel or other applications. By diverting plastic
waste from landfills and incinerators and using it as a feedstock for pyrolysis, we can reduce the amount
of plastic waste that ends up polluting the environment. However, the effectiveness of pyrolysis as a
plastic waste reduction strategy will depend on a variety of factors, including the availability of suitable
feedstocks, the efficiency of the pyrolysis process, and the economic viability of producing and using the
resulting products.
Materials
Feedstock: This can be any organic material, including plastic waste , biomass, tires or even sewage
sludge.
Pyrolysis reactor: This is a chamber where the feedstock is heated to high temperatures in the absence of
oxygen.
Heating source: This can be electricity, natural gas, or any other fuel source that can generate the high
temperatures needed for pyrolysis.
Condenser: This is a device that cools the vapors produced during pyrolysis and condense them into a
liquid.
Methods:
Slow pyrolysis:
This is a method where the feedstock is heated to a temperature of 400-500 OC and held for several hours.
This results in high yield of solid char and a low yield of liquid and gas.
Fast pyrolysis:
This is a method where the feedstock is heated to a temperature of 500-800 OC and held for a few seconds
to a few minutes. This results in a high yield of liquid and gas and a low yield of sloid char.
Vacuum pyrolysis:
This is a methods where the pyrolysis reactor is operated at a reduced pressure to lower the boiling points
of the vapors produced during pyrolysis. This can increase the yield of liquid and gas and reduce the yield
of solid char.
Work Package:
Year Work Package (WP) Activity Deliverables
WP1 Trash Collection
1st Jan – 30th Jun Purification Purified
Preparation Plastic
2024
WP2 Feeding
1st Jul-29th Dec Pyrolysis Petroleum
Separation Fractions
Residue (Fuel)
Budget
This project can cost from approximately 8,750,000 to 87,500,000 Pakistani rupees.
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