Comparative analysis of thermal and catalytic pyrolysis methods for converting waste plastic into fuel oil
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Ebube Daniel Ezeokolie 1 * , Temple Uzoma Maduoma 1 , Benjamin Nweke 2 , Unity Oluwaiye Ekugbe 3 , Onyinyechi Angelina Ezekoka 1 , Joel Nnamdi Esonwune 1 , Anayochukwu Ebuka Chukwuma 1 , Emmanuel Chigozirim Onuoha 1 , Onyechinemere Divine Success 1 , Johnson Obasi Chukwu 1
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1 Federal University of Technology, Owerri, NIGERIA2 University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA3 Obafemi Awolowo University, Zaria, NIGERIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study investigated the idea of using pyrolysis to convert plastic waste into an alternative fuel oil. The thermal and catalytic conversion of polypropylene waste plastic to fuel oil was investigated. The catalyst used was aluminum chloride on activated carbon. The experiment was conducted in two different phases. The first phase was done without a catalyst, and 83.10 cm3 of oil was produced at a maximum temperature of 300 °C and a reaction time of 3 hours. The oil yield was 41.55%. The second phase was done using aluminum chloride on an activated carbon catalyst, and 108.46 cm3 of oil was obtained at a maximum temperature of 300 °C and a reaction time of 2 hours. The oil yield was 54.23%. The amount of char product was also determined to be 0.3 g for the experiment done without a catalyst and 0.2 g for the experiment done with a catalyst. From the results, catalytic pyrolysis is more efficient than purely thermal pyrolysis. The fuel properties of the fuel oil were also investigated, and a comparison was made with the properties of diesel oil. The fuel oil showed similar characteristics to diesel oil. The study concluded that applying catalytic pyrolysis at a given temperature produced more oil products and that the degradation of plastics began at a lower temperature than with thermal pyrolysis alone. In light of this, the study suggested that pyrolysis be used as an alternative to combustion and incineration since it is known to create fewer hazardous byproducts and may also be used to recover fuel and other valuable raw materials.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 9, Issue 1, 2025, Article No: em0278

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/15133

Publication date: 02 Jan 2025

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