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Title Thermochemical Valorization of Plastic Waste Containing Low Density Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride and Polyvinyl Butyral into Thermal and Fuel Energy
ID_Doc 22658
Authors Jablonska, B; Poznanska, G; Jablonski, P; Zwolinska, J
Title Thermochemical Valorization of Plastic Waste Containing Low Density Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride and Polyvinyl Butyral into Thermal and Fuel Energy
Year 2024
Published Energies, 17.0, 14
DOI 10.3390/en17143458
Abstract Pyrolysis is a promising technology for transforming waste plastics (WPs) into high-value products. In the near future it will play a key role in the circular economy, as a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of managing this waste. Although the literature reports on the pyrolysis of plastics, it is focused on pure polymers. On the other hand, the state-of-the-art knowledge about the pyrolysis of mixed and contaminated WPs is still scarce. Industrial waste processing usually uses polymer mixtures containing various impurities that influence the pyrolysis process during chemical WPs recycling. In the paper the pyrolysis of three types of WPs: low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB) from repeated mechanical recycling of plastics, as well as their binary and ternary mixtures, is considered. The influence of particular components on the pyrolysis process is analyzed. The aim is to determine synergistic behavior of the mixtures during the pyrolysis process, which is important for increasing the efficiency and quality of the obtained bioproducts. Methods such as thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectroscopy (MS) are used. The variations in the initial and final temperature of pyrolysis, mass loss and mass loss rate are determined. The content of PVC significantly lowers the initial temperature and mass loss and increases the final temperature. The pyrolysis of the considered mixtures shows a noticeable synergism-in the initial stage of pyrolysis up to a temperature around 450 degrees C, the mass loss is accelerated compared to what is predicted by simple superposition. The inhomogeneity of the mixtures as well as the waste origin causes a significant variation in the activation energy. Three main conclusions are obtained: (i) if the waste does not contain PVC, the pyrolysis is nearly complete at a temperature around 500 degrees C at a heating rate of 10 degrees C/min, whereas PVC is not fully processed even at 995 degrees C; (ii) the synergistic effects affect significantly the pyrolysis process by accelerating some steps and lowering the activation energy; and (iii) the presence of PVC noticeably lowers the temperature of the first stage of PVB pyrolysis. The investigation results prove that chemical recycling of mixed LDPE, PVC and PVB waste can be an effective method of plastic waste management.
Author Keywords pyrolysis; plastic wastes; circular economy; chemical recycling; synergy; waste management; LDPE; PVC; PVB
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:001277409000001
WoS Category Energy & Fuels
Research Area Energy & Fuels
PDF https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/14/3458/pdf?version=1720865762
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