Environmentally Harmful Low Density Waste Plastic Conversion into Kerosene Grade Fuel

Abstract

Plastics wastes from a municipal solid waste (MSW) plant have a high-energy content and are suitable for fuel generation. Thermal cracking is one of the possible ways to obtain petrochemical feedstock from polymer wastes. Municipal waste plastic of LDPE conversion to kerosene grade fuel experiments were carried out under atmospheric conditions at temperatures between 150℃ and 420℃. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste (Code #2) was thermally depolymerized in batch process into stainless steel reactor without adding catalyst. The maximum kerosene grade fuel yield is 30%, other grade fuel 60%, light gas 6% and left over residue 4%. The composition, sulphur and Btu value of liquid products were determined by ASTM method. Produced fuel was analyzed by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometer and FT-IR. Very high conversions from LDPE waste plastic to kerosene grade fuel (up to 35%) were obtained while using this technique. Detailed product analyses and characterization lead to a reasonable explanation of reaction pathways and mechanisms.