Pyrolytic Waste Plastic Oil and Its Diesel Blend: Fuel Characterization

• Published in: Journal of Environmental and Public Health Vol. 2016; no. 2016; pp. 220 - 225
• Main Authors: Hasan, M. R., Al-Mamun, M. R., Sultana, M., Khan, M. Z. H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01.01.2016; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Alternative fuels; Chemical properties; Diesel fuels; Flammability; Gasoline - analysis; Incineration; Kinematic viscosity; Plastic debris; Plastic scrap; Polyethylene - analysis; Polyethylene - chemistry; Pyrolysis; Testing
• ISSN: 1687-9805; 1687-9813; 1687-9813
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/7869080

The authors introduced waste plastic pyrolysis oil (WPPO) as an alternative fuel characterized in detail and compared with conventional diesel. High density polyethylene, HDPE, was pyrolyzed in a self-designed stainless steel laboratory reactor to produce useful fuel products. HDPE waste was completely pyrolyzed at 330–490°C for 2-3 hours to obtain solid residue, liquid fuel oil, and flammable gaseous hydrocarbon products. Comparison of the fuel properties to the petrodiesel fuel standards ASTM D 975 and EN 590 revealed that the synthetic product was within all specifications. Notably, the fuel properties included a kinematic viscosity (40°C) of 1.98 cSt, density of 0.75 gm/cc, sulphur content of 0.25 (wt%), and carbon residue of 0.5 (wt%), and high calorific value represented significant enhancements over those of conventional petroleum diesel fuel.