Production and Analysis of the Physicochemical Properties of the Pyrolytic Oil Obtained from Pyrolysis of Different Thermoplastics and Plastic Mixtures

Molecules. 2022 May 20;27(10):3287. doi: 10.3390/molecules27103287.

Abstract

The constant search for the proper management of non-degradable waste in conjunction with the circular economy makes the thermal pyrolysis of plastics an important technique for obtaining products with industrial interest. The present study aims to produce pyrolytic oil from thermoplastics and their different mixtures in order to determine the best performance between these and different mixtures, as well as to characterize the liquid fraction obtained to analyze its use based on said properties. This was carried out in a batch type reactor at a temperature of 400 °C for both individual plastics and their mixtures, from which the yields of the different fractions are obtained. The liquid fraction of interest is characterized by gas chromatography and its properties are characterized by ASTM standards. The product of the pyrolysis of mixtures of 75% polystyrene and 25% polypropylene presents a yield of 82%, being the highest, with a viscosity of 1.12 cSt and a calorific power of 42.5 MJ/kg, which has a composition of compounds of carbon chains ranging between C6 and C20, for which it is proposed as a good additive agent to conventional fuels for industrial use.

Keywords: bio fuels; plastics waste; pyrolysis.

MeSH terms

  • Plastics*
  • Polypropylenes
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry
  • Pyrolysis*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Plastics
  • Polypropylenes
  • Polystyrenes

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.