Plastics to Fuel from an Unknown Sample

Plastic is not infinitely recyclable, but little end of life processing has been developed outside of landfilling. The Plastics to Fuel project aims to change this standard and create an alternative use for plastic once it reaches the end of its life cycle. To do this, the Plastic to Fuel project can begin with an unknown mixed plastic material, characterize it through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Then, using a pyrolysis kiln reactor, a liquid carbon fuel, or diesel fuel, is produced. This is done slowly, in a single step, and without catalyst. The only required mechanical processing consists of shredding the feedstock, to increase packing density. By performing Flame-Ionization Gas Chromatography (GC-FID), and One-Dimensional Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1D 1H NMR) on the product, a comparison can be made to model systems of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and Polypropylene (PP), as well as with #2 diesel. Because of the variety in types and manufacturing techniques of plastic, the Plastics to Fuel project continues to test this methodology on many different feedstocks and mixtures to investigate the differences in the product. With further development, this project has the potential to reduce waste in landfills, prevent microplastics from leaching into the environment, while also reducing local cost for fuel in rural communities.