This document discusses plastic fuels produced through pyrolysis of plastic waste. It notes that plastic production is increasing rapidly, creating more plastic waste that is difficult to dispose of using traditional methods like landfilling and incineration. Pyrolysis is introduced as a process that involves heating plastic in an oxygen-free environment to produce gas and fuel. The plastic is thermally decomposed at 400 degrees Celsius without burning, avoiding the release of toxins. This converted plastic fuel has properties similar to diesel fuel and could help address the problems of plastic waste disposal while providing an alternative fuel source.
2. What are plastics?
• Plastics are polymers that are made of basic
elements such as Carbon, Hydrogen and also
other elements such as nitrogen, chlorine etc.
• The only disadvantage of plastic is that it is non-
degradable and there are very few methods of
disposing plastics.
• The few methods involve pyrolysis, dumping in
areas and reuse.
3. NEED FOR PLASTIC WASTE
MANAGEMENT
• The world’s annual production of plastic
materials has been steadily increasing at a rate
of nearly 5% over the past 20 yrs due to
economic growth and the change of
consumption and production patterns.
• More resources used- more plastic waste
generated.
• Waste plastic is causing problem to the
environment and human health.
4. DISADVANTAGE OF TRADTIONAL
METHODS
• Plastic is easy to burn but it produces toxic gases
when burned.
• Landfills of the post consumed plastics has
potential problem because of limited land
resources and high durability of plastics.
• Incineration generate poisonous substances and
causes serious health problems.
5. PYROLYSIS
• Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of materials
at elevated temperatures in an inert atmosphere. It
involves a change of chemical composition. The
word is coined from the Greek-derived elements
pyro "fire" and lysis "separating". Pyrolysis is most
commonly used in the treatment of organic
materials.
7. CONVERSION OF PLASTIC TO
FUEL
• Plastics are shredded and then heated in an oxygen free
chamber to about 400 degree Celsius.
• As the plastic boils gas is separated out and often reuse
to fuel the machine itself.
• The fuel is then distilled and filtered because the entire
process takes place inside a vacuum and the plastic is
melted not burned, no resultant toxins are released into
the air as all the gases or sludge are reused to fuel the
machine.
• This process is called Depolymerisation. The Long chains
in plastic is broken in small chains of hydrocarbons and
condensed to be used as fuel.
8. COMPARISON WITH DIESEL
• The diesel range products in the LDPE derived
fuels contain the same linear chain alkanes as
those in the fresh diesel.
• The content of alkene in LDPE derived products
is much higher than that in diesel, which
decreases the storage stability of fuel.
• Plastic derived diesel contains high proportion of
linear alkane.
9. ADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC
FUELS
• Problem of disposal of waste plastic is solved.
• Waste plastic is converted into high value fuels.
• Environmental pollution is controlled.
• Industrial and automobile fuel requirement shall
be fulfilled to some extent at lower price.
• No pollutants are created during cracking of
plastics.
• The crude oil and the gas can be used for
generation of electricity