Hydroprocessing mixed waste plastics to obtain clean transport fuel. (15th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mangesh, V.L.; Tamizhdurai, P.; Umasankar, S.; Palaniswamy, R.; Narayanan, S.; Augustine, T.; Kumaran, R.; ALOthman, Zeid A.; Ouladsmane, Mohamed; Govindasamy, Mani
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 358(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07-15
• Subjects: Mixed waste plastics -- Pyrolysis -- Hydroprocessing -- Combustion -- Emissions; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131952
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Energy from synthetic plastic waste is still elusive as pyrolysis alone could not deliver an environmentally friendly fuel. Hydroprocessing of pyrolysis oil from post-consumer mixed plastics had been attempted earlier; however, demonstration of the performance of the processed fuel through analysis of its properties, composition and engine performance has not been reported yet. High-density polyethylene, Low-density polyethylene and polypropylene were the chosen feedstock for this study and they were individually pyrolyzed utilizing ZSM-5 catalyst. The produced pyrolysis oil of each feedstock was mixed in a 1:1:1 ratio and hydroprocessed utilizing Nb/SBA-16 catalyst at various hydroprocessing parameters. The process hydrogen pressure (70 bar), reaction temperature (350 °C) and reaction time (6 h) delivered a fuel that matched diesel. The physicochemical properties matched EN590 (European diesel standards), and the GC-MS study facilitated the comparative analysis of the fuel with diesel. The components n-alkanes, isoalkanes and aromatics of the produced fuel gave a competitive match with diesel (90%). The produced fuel was blended with diesel and trial-tested in a diesel engine. Analysis of the entire array of engine performance results demonstrated a match of 94% for combustion and 90% for emissions. Energy from waste plastics is viable when it satisfies the regulatory requirements, and the results of this study provide the possibility to pursue that path.