Plastics to fuel: a review

The thermal and catalytic processes of converting waste plactics into fuels are promising techniques to eliminate the refuse which otherwise is harmful to the enivironment, and decrease the dependence on fossil fuels. Thermal degradation decomposes plastic into three fractions: gas, crude oil, and solid residue. Crude oil from non-catalytic pyrolysis is usually composed of higher boiling point hydrocarbons. The optimization of conversion parameters such as the choice of catalyst, reactor design, pyrolysis temperature, and plastic-to-catalyst ratio plays a very important role in the efficient generation of gasoline and diesel grade fuel. The use of a catalyst for thermal conversion lowers the energy required for conversion, and the catalyst choice is important for efficient fuel production. The suitable selection of catalysts can increase the yield of crude oil with lower hydrocarbon content. Co-pyrolysis of plastics with coal or shale oil improves crude oil quality by decreasing its viscosity. A large number of publications have appeared on various processes, and continued improvements and/or innovations are expected in the future. Further investigations on the catalytic systems are required in order to advance the field, particularly to enhance the added value of fuels and to minimize the use of energy. This review aims to provide both the highlights of the remarkable achievements of this field and the milestones that need to be achieved in the future.

[1]  John W. Scott,et al.  Chemical properties of biocrude oil from the hydrothermal liquefaction of Spirulina algae, swine manure, and digested anaerobic sludge. , 2011, Bioresource technology.

[2]  Paul N. Sharratt,et al.  Investigation of the Catalytic Pyrolysis of High-Density Polyethylene over a HZSM-5 Catalyst in a Laboratory Fluidized-Bed Reactor , 1997 .

[3]  Lazaros G. Papageorgiou,et al.  Techno-economic assessment of thermo-chemical treatment (TCT) units in the Greater London area , 2014 .

[4]  B. Sharma,et al.  Oxidation, friction reducing, and low temperature properties of epoxy fatty acid methyl esters , 2007 .

[5]  Oliver Richard Inderwildi,et al.  The status of conventional world oil reserves—Hype or cause for concern? , 2010 .

[6]  W.P.M. van Swaaij,et al.  Techno-economic evaluation of high temperature pyrolysis processes for mixed plastic waste. , 1998 .

[7]  László Bartha,et al.  Thermal degradation of municipal plastic waste for production of fuel-like hydrocarbons , 2004 .

[8]  J. Hustad,et al.  Pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of municipal solid wastes , 2001 .

[9]  I. Marco,et al.  Catalytic stepwise pyrolysis of packaging plastic waste , 2012 .

[10]  Mingsheng Luo,et al.  Thermal and catalytic coprocessing of Illinois No. 6. coal with model and commingled waste plastics , 1996 .

[11]  Shahriar Shafiee,et al.  When will fossil fuel reserves be diminished , 2009 .

[12]  Weihong Yang,et al.  Effect of heat transfer model on the prediction of refuse-derived fuel pyrolysis process , 2015 .

[13]  Rusong Wang,et al.  Characteristics and the recovery potential of plastic wastes obtained from landfill mining , 2014 .

[14]  A. Garforth,et al.  Conversion of Polyethylene into Gasoline-Range Fuels by Two-Stage Catalytic Degradation Using Silica−Alumina and HZSM-5 Zeolite , 1999 .

[15]  A. Aboulkas,et al.  Co-pyrolysis of oil shale and plastics: Influence of pyrolysis parameters on the product yields , 2012 .

[16]  Fabio Bertini,et al.  Catalytic degradation of polymers: Part III—Degradation of polystyrene☆ , 1990 .

[17]  G. Lopez,et al.  Catalytic pyrolysis of HDPE in continuous mode over zeolite catalysts in a conical spouted bed reactor , 2009 .

[18]  Rahul Singh,et al.  Thermolysis of waste plastics to liquid fuel: A suitable method for plastic waste management and manufacture of value added products—A world prospective , 2010 .

[19]  Francisco Passamonti,et al.  Recycling of waste plastics into fuels. LDPE conversion in FCC , 2012 .

[20]  S Kim,et al.  Pyrolysis kinetics of waste PVC pipe. , 2001, Waste management.

[21]  P. Williams,et al.  Analysis of products from the pyrolysis and liquefaction of single plastics and waste plastic mixtures , 2007 .

[22]  Stefan Czernik,et al.  Fast pyrolysis of plastic wastes , 1990 .

[23]  S. Rastogi.  Gas chromatographic analysis of phthalate esters in plastic toys , 1998 .

[24]  J. Encinar,et al.  Pyrolysis of synthetic polymers and plastic wastes. Kinetic study , 2008 .

[25]  G De Feo,et al.  Energy from gasification of solid wastes. , 2003, Waste management.

[26]  Zhang Hairong,et al.  Kinetic study of low-temperature conversion of plastic mixtures to value added products , 2012 .

[27]  Mujid S. Kazimi,et al.  Efficiency of hydrogen production systems using alternative nuclear energy technologies , 2006 .

[28]  T. Begley,et al.  High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of migrating poly(ethylene terephthalate) oligomers in corn oil , 1990 .

[29]  Jungho Hwang,et al.  Kinetic Study in Modeling Pyrolysis of Refuse Plastic Fuel , 2007 .

[30]  Nandakishore Rajagopalan,et al.  Production, characterization and fuel properties of alternative diesel fuel from pyrolysis of waste plastic grocery bags ☆ , 2014 .

[31]  M. Sarker,et al.  Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE-1) Conversion into Liquid Fuel , 2011 .

[32]  D. Serrano,et al.  Fuels from Waste Plastics by Thermal and Catalytic Processes: A Review , 2008 .

[33]  G. Sakellaropoulos,et al.  Pyrolysis kinetics and combustion characteristics of waste recovered fuels , 2009 .

[34]  Rebecca J. Barthelmie,et al.  Offshore Wind Energy in Europe— A Review of the State‐of‐the‐Art , 2003 .

[35]  O Nakasugi,et al.  Bisphenol A in hazardous waste landfill leachates. , 2001, Chemosphere.

[36]  Yeuh-Hui Lin,et al.  Postconsumer Plastic Waste Over Post-Use Cracking Catalysts for Producing Hydrocarbon Fuels , 2013 .

[37]  Joseph M. Perez,et al.  Soybean Oil-Based Lubricants: A Search for Synergistic Antioxidants† , 2007 .

[38]  Ni-Bin Chang,et al.  Pyrolysis kinetics of refuse-derived fuel , 1999 .

[39]  J. Lange,et al.  Recent innovations in barrier technologies for plastic packaging—a review , 2003 .

[40]  Jingcui Liang,et al.  Thermal and catalytic degradation of high density polyethylene and commingled post-consumer plastic waste , 1997 .

[41]  J. Baeyens,et al.  Recycling and recovery routes of plastic solid waste (PSW): a review. , 2009, Waste management.

[42]  Isabel Cabrita,et al.  Mixtures of rubber tyre and plastic wastes pyrolysis: A kinetic study , 2013 .

[43]  José M. Escola,et al.  Performance of a continuous screw kiln reactor for the thermal and catalytic conversion of polyethylene–lubricating oil base mixtures , 2003 .

[44]  S. Ucar,et al.  Copyrolysis of scrap tires with waste lubricant oil , 2005 .

[45]  Rajeev Singh,et al.  An overview for exploring the possibilities of energy generation from municipal solid waste (MSW) in Indian scenario , 2011 .

[46]  Kunio Yoshikawa,et al.  Fuel Oil Production from Municipal Plastic Wastes in Sequential Pyrolysis and Catalytic Reforming Reactors , 2014 .

[47]  Jingcui Liang,et al.  Hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of high-density polyethylene and waste plastic over zeolite and silica-alumina-supported Ni and Ni-Mo sulfides , 1997 .

[48]  J. Kano,et al.  Estimation of mechanochemical dechlorination rate of poly(vinyl chlorde). , 2002, Environmental science & technology.

[49]  Julio Hernández,et al.  Survey of modelling methods for wind turbine wakes and wind farms , 1999 .

[50]  Isabel Cabrita,et al.  Pyrolysis of plastic wastes. 1. Effect of plastic waste composition on product yield , 1999 .

[51]  N. Miskolczi,et al.  Fuels by pyrolysis of waste plastics from agricultural and packaging sectors in a pilot scale reactor , 2009 .

[52]  Farooq Anwar,et al.  Lubricant properties of Moringa oil using thermal and tribological techniques , 2009 .

[53]  László Bartha,et al.  Thermal degradation of polyethylene and polystyrene from the packaging industry over different catalysts into fuel-like feed stocks , 2006 .

[54]  M. Siddiqui,et al.  Thermal and catalytic decomposition behavior of PVC mixed plastic waste with petroleum residue , 2005 .

[55]  A. G. Buekens,et al.  Catalytic plastics cracking for recovery of gasoline-range hydrocarbons from municipal plastic wastes , 1998 .

[56]  Joe Nasr,et al.  Urban agriculture for sustainable cities: using wastes and idle land and water bodies as resources , 1992 .

[57]  Paola Lettieri,et al.  Thermo-Chemical Treatment of Plastic Solid Waste (PSW) , 2011 .

[58]  George Manos,et al.  Catalytic degradation of plastic waste to liquid fuel over commercial cracking catalysts: Effect of polymer to catalyst ratio/acidity content , 2005 .

[59]  A. Tarrer,et al.  High-temperature liquefaction of waste plastics , 1998 .

[60]  R. Prakash,et al.  Performance and emission analysis of blends of waste plastic oil obtained by catalytic pyrolysis of waste HDPE with diesel in a CI engine , 2013 .

[61]  C. J. Donahue,et al.  Chemical recycling of pop bottles: The synthesis of dibenzyl terephthalate from the plastic polyethylene terephthalate , 2003 .

[62]  J S Dennis,et al.  Environmental analysis of plastic production processes: comparing petroleum-based polypropylene and polyethylene with biologically-based poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid using life cycle analysis. , 2007, Journal of biotechnology.

[63]  M. El‐Halwagi,et al.  Techno-Economic Feasibility and Flowsheet Synthesis of Scrap Tire/Plastic Waste Liquefaction , 1999 .

[64]  B. Sharma,et al.  Friction and wear behavior of thioether hydroxy vegetable oil , 2009 .

[65]  U Arena,et al.  A techno-economic comparison of fluidized bed gasification of two mixed plastic wastes. , 2011, Waste management.

[66]  Md Sadikur Rahman,et al.  Waste Polystyrene (PS-6) Plastic Conversion into Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel by Using HZSM-5 Catalyst with Thermal Degradation Process , 2014 .

[67]  Maria Mimikou,et al.  Climate change impacts on the reliability of hydroelectric energy production , 1997 .

[68]  Sevim Z. Erhan,et al.  Oxidation and low temperature stability of vegetable oil-based lubricants , 2006 .

[69]  Richard C. Thompson,et al.  Our plastic age , 2009, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

[70]  Deuk Ki Lee,et al.  Optimization of pyrolytic coprocessing of waste plastics and waste motor oil into fuel oils using statistical pentagonal experimental design , 1999 .

[71]  J. Arnold,et al.  Environmental impact of pyrolysis of mixed WEEE plastics part 1: Experimental pyrolysis data. , 2011, Environmental science & technology.

[72]  G. Huffman,et al.  Direct liquefaction of waste plastics and coliquefaction of coal-plastic mixtures , 1996 .

[73]  Antonio Marcilla,et al.  Thermal Degradation of LDPE−Vacuum Gas Oil Mixtures for Plastic Wastes Valorization , 2007 .

[74]  T. H. Christensen,et al.  Chemical composition of material fractions in Danish household waste. , 2009, Waste management.