2. Introduction
The growth of plastic production has been increasing drastically as it
is widely used in many type of product industry due to its low cost and
advantages to the population. But on the other side it being non bio-
degradable i.e. not easily decomposed makes it a problem to the
environment.
Plastic waste –
Generally the municipal plastic waste contains about 3-5 wt%
PVC, 5-8 wt% PET, 15-20 wt% PP, 20-25 wt% LDPE, HDPE 10-
15 wt%, 7-10 wt% of ABS, Nylon, etc.
Methods for disposal of plastic waste
There are various methods to dispose waste plastic such as land
filling, incineration, blast furnace, gasification and mostly used
recycling. But these also are not able to fill the required disposal of
plastic waste.
3. Current status of disposal methods in our country
According to a nation wide survey conducted by CPCB in the year 2003. More
than 10,000 MT(metric tons) of plastic waste is generated daily in our country,
and only 40 w% is recycled, remaining 60 wt% is not possible to dispose off.
Plastic waste contributes to the solid waste streams by about 8 – 15 % by weight
and twice that by volume(GOI 1997).
Why fuel generation from plastic waste
Our country faces a critical problem of fuel and energy deficiency. The fast
depletion of petroleum reserves and its rising prices affect our economy
adversely.
The National production capacity is capable of fulfilling not even 30% of the
total fuel demand. Remaining 70% is fulfilled by importing crude oil.
So, This technique will help in the disposal of plastic waste and will also help in
fulfilling the national oil demand of our country.
4. Process involved in the fuel generation
Two processes are involved in the conversion of waste plastic into fuel oil.
Basic Pyrolysis process –
In this, thermo chemical decomposition of organic and synthetic materials is
carried out at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen. The process is
usually conducted at temperature range from 500-800 °C . The catalyst used in
this process is the natural zeolite and Y zeolite.
Catalyst reforming process –
It is a major conversion process used in
petroleum refinery & petrochemical industry. The reforming process is a
catalytic process which converts low octane naphthas into higher octane
reformate products for gasoline bending.
5. Description of the equipment
REACTOR –
This is an insulated stainless steel cylindrical reactor heated by electrical
heating coils to achieve a maximum heating temperature of 500 °C . The necessary
provision is made on the reactor for mounting the gadgets for measuring pressure,
temperature and collection of hydrocarbons from the reactor.
CONDENSER –
The gaseous output from the reactor is passed through a double walled
condenser with inlets and outlets for cooling water. The gaseous hydrocarbons at a
temperature of around 350 °C are condensed to around 30-35 °C .
RECEIVER –
The condensed hydrocarbon in the liquid form is collected in the receiver.
The provision is made for collecting the uncondensed gases in to gas collector. The
arrangement to measure the volume & rate of flow of distillate continuously or
intermittently at any point of time is made in this section.
CONTROL PANEL –
The complete process is controlled from the control panel.
Optionally the process can also be controlled from a Computer. The continuous feed
back of the process parameters is available on the Control Panel and the Computer. The
data generated is stored in the computer.
7. Journal Author &
Published
year
Materials
used
Abstract Methedology
Fuel oil
production from
municipal
Plastic waste in
sequential
pyrolysis &
catalytic
reforming
reactors.
Mochamad
syamsiro, Harwin
Saptoadi, Tinton
Narsujianto, Putri
Noviasri, Shuo
cheng, Zainal
Alimuddin, Kunio
Yoshikawa
Published date –
4 february 2014
• Feedstock used
for the
experiment are
of three types of
MPW i.e.
Polyethylene
bags with PE
bag 2 & HDPE
waste.
• Catalyst used
in this process
are commercial
Y Zeolite &
Natural zeolite .
• Aim of this
experiment was to
study fuel oil
production from
pyrolysis &
catalytic
reforming process
• Feedstock types
strongly affect the
yield & quality of
product.
• Catalyst
presence reduced
the liquid fraction
& increase the
gaseous fraction.
• The pyrolytic &
catalyst reforming
reactor are made of
stainless steel &
covered with an
electrical heater.
• 1.6– 2.6 Kg of
feedstock is fed
into pyrolytic &
reforming reactor
& was set at 450
degree c.
• Then, 100 gm of
catalyst is added to
reforming reactor
where pyrolisis gas
is formed.
• Reforming Gas
was condensed to
liquid products in
the condenser.
8. Properties Units PE bag 1 HDPE waste PE bag 2 Test method
Density @
15°C
g/cm3 0.8544 0.7991 0.824 ASTM D1298
Kinematic
viscosity
@ 40°C
cSt 1.739 2.319 1.838 ASTM D 445
Flash
point
Degree
c
<10 <10 <10 ASTM D 93
Pour point Degree
c
24 27 24 ASTM D 97
Water
content
% vol. 0.1 0.5 Trace ASTM D95
Heating
value
MJ/Kg 41.45 42.82 46.67 ASTM D240
Results
o Effect on properties of liquid product from various feedstock.
PE bag 1 produced highest gasoline fraction & PE bag 2 produced highest diesel
fraction. Kinematic viscosity was greater for HDPE waste. Pour point was higher for
all of the three. Flash points were lower than that of diesel fuels.
9. Properties Units No catalyst Y Zeolite Natural
Zeolite
Density @
15°C
g/cm3 0.8719 0.824 0.868
Kinematic
viscosity @
40°C
cSt 1.99 1.838 2.191
Flash point Degree c <10 <10 <10
Pour point Degree c 27 24 24
Water
content
% vol. 0.5 Trace Trace
Heating
volume
MJ/Kg 46.74 46.67 45.58
o Effect on properties of liquid products for
different catalysts.
Pyrolysis with natural Zeolite catalyst produced higher liquid
product campared to Y Zeolite. Heating value of WPO is similar to
those of commercial fuels.
10. Conclusion from research paper
Results show that feedstock type strongly affect the
product yield & quality of liquid product.
HDPE waste produced the highest liquid fraction.
Catalyst presence reduces the liquid fraction &
increases the gaseous fraction.
But Pyrolysis with natural Zeolite produced higher
liquid fraction than Y Zeolite.
Quality of waste plastic oil was still lower that
that of commercial fuels.
11. Conclusion
This invention shall lead towards the development
of economical & eco – friendly technology for
plastic waste disposal.
This technology will also be beneficial for solving
the problem of national fuel demand & save
millions of foreign exchange.
12. Future work
An improved process & apparatus for
manufacture of liquid fuel from
plastic waste and refinery waste.
