Production of Sustainable Liquid Fuel From Waste Polymeric Materials via Thermal Pyrolysis

Abstract

The widespread use of polymeric materials has become an environmental threat as they are durable and nonbiodegradable in nature, which is directly responsible for severe ecological consequences. Thermal pyrolysis offers a sustainable and efficient approach to converting these polymeric waste materials into liquid fuel, which is also referred to as pyrolysis oil (PO). In this study, a novel method was developed for producing oil from a composite of waste polymers that include vehicle tires, tubes, and medical waste. A fixed-bed stainless steel reactor is used to thermally breakdown the waste polymeric feedstock (300–750°C) in an inert environment. The PO was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), GC–MS spectroscopy, and 1H NMR to identify its chemical composition, which confirms the presence of long-chain hydrocarbons, both aliphatic and aromatic. The PO undergoes into further characterization for its physicochemical properties, which indicates that it meets petroleum standards and showing its promise as an alternative fuel. The kinetics of pyrolysis processes were investigated in a batch reactor, which indicating its potential for using in large industrial production. This research highlighted the potential of polymeric waste as a sustainable fuel that paves the way for alternative energy sources and minimizing the environment pollution.