Methods of conversion plastic waste into wax-free plastic oil

• Main Authors: Ermada, Fahruddin J., Kismanto, Agus, Alamsyah, Rizal, Fariza, Oni, Yarsono, Samdi, Abrori, Mokhammad, Supriatna, Nina Konitat, Raksodewanto, Alfonsus Agus
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diesel fuels; Energy requirements; Heating rate; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Pyrolysis; Raw materials; Waxes
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0206056

Pyrolysis of plastic waste is considered a fairly effective method to solve the problem of plastic waste and help create renewable fuels. Unfortunately, several studies have been conducted, resulting in a low yield of pyrolysis oil due to the formation of by-products in the form of wax. So that the pyrolysis of plastic waste becomes economically unfeasible. This research focuses on reducing the problem of wax formation and low yields. Pyrolysis experiments used polyethylene (PE) as raw material, at various low heating rates (2, 3, and 4°C/min) and final pyrolysis temperatures (300, 400, and 500 °C). The quality of the pyrolysis oil produced from the thermal pyrolysis of polyethylene (PE) at various low heating rates and final temperatures was studied. The best results were at a heating rate of 2 °C/min and a final pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C, with 91 weight percent of the pyrolysis oil product, and interestingly, without wax formation. The main oil produced is a diesel-like fraction (79.08%), kerosene-like (14.74%), and contains very little gasoline-like fraction (6.17%). This paper shows that pyrolysis with a low heating rate and low final temperature can be a more economical process than the existing processes, due to its energy requirements, higher yield, and better oil quality.