Determination of Temperature Parameters for Optimization of a Plastic Pyrolysis Process for Fuel Oil

Municipal solid waste not properly disposed by major population centers of the developing world often finds itself dumped near slums or rural villages surrounding those regions. This waste is a serious environmental and health concern for the communities present in those regions. Lack of infrastructure, capital, and governmental policies continues the waste pile-up. Thus, methods of removing, recycling, and repurposing the otherwise pollutant waste are needed. In order to optimize the scale of municipal solid waste reduction, a process of plastic pyrolysis for the generation of a diesel and kerosene similar fuel oil has been proposed by the University of Kentucky Appropriate Technology and Sustainability (UKATS) research team. Several commonly occurring plastics such as High and Low Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene have been analyzed for their potential as hydrocarbon fuel oil. In order to optimize this chemical process, the temperature parameters around maximum yield and the removal of yield impeding, low viscosity hydrocarbon formation were to be determined. In order to achieve this, a small scale pyrolysis chamber was used to variably test constant temperatures. The small scale reaction chamber made of tubular stainless-steel that contained 75 grams of the desired plastic. The experimental results described the percent yields of plastic for variances in plastic type and the temperature of heating. This temperature scale began in a proposed range between 350°C and 450°C and was altered with reoccurring experimental findings. Along with data collection of individual plastics, a mixture of the LDPE, HDPE, PP and PS was also tested for appropriate applications. This data will then applied to the continuous heating of plastic inside the UKATS Processor. A modified rocket stove design, allowing the controlled heating through a wood fire at similarly high temperatures. The UKATS Processor can then be utilized in developing areas of the world offering an alternative recycling method with the potential to create jobs and alternative fuel.

Keywords: pyrolysis, sustainability