Aspects of chemical recycling of complex plastic waste via the gasification route. (1st May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weiland, Fredrik; Lundin, Lisa; Celebi, Mustafa; van der Vlist, Klaas; Moradian, Farzad
• Is Part Of: Waste management. Volume 126(2021)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2021-05-01
• Subjects: Gasification -- Syngas -- Plastic waste -- Chemical recycling -- Chlorine -- Dioxins; Hazardous wastes -- Periodicals; Refuse and refuse disposal -- Periodicals; 363.728
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.02.054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-053X

Abstract

Highlights: Cold gas efficiency of 80% for gasification of a plastic reject from recycled paper. HCl reduction >98% with simple quench and two-stage combustion. Gasification reduced dioxin emissions. Automotive shredder residue fly ash = potential zinc concentrate for recycling. Abstract: Oxygen blown high-temperature gasification constitutes an opportunity for chemical recycling of plastic wastes. This article summarizes the results from comparative tests of combustion and gasification of two complex plastic wastes: a plastic reject (PR) from processing recycled paper and an automotive shredder residue (ASR). Calculated gasification efficiencies corresponded to about 80% and 60%, respectively. Gasification resulted in lower yields of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) compared to direct combustion. A two-stage process, including gasification followed by syngas combustion, reduced the emissions of HCl and PCDD/F in the flue gas to <1.4% and <0.2%, respectively, compared to the levels from direct combustion of the PR feedstock. Most of the PCDD/F (>99%) was captured along with particulate matter (soot) during gasification. The contribution to the toxic concentration of PCDD/F was mainly from the PCDF congeners. Fly ash particulate matter from ASR combustion contained a significant proportion of zinc, which thus constitutes a great potential for use in zinc recycling.