Production of oil from plastic waste through thermal degradation process

Abstract

The production of bio-oil from plastic waste through the thermal degradation process is a sustainable and innovative approach that addresses both environmental and waste management challenges. Pyrolysis is one of the thermal degradation processes that involve heating organic materials in the absence of oxygen, leading to the decomposition of complex organic compounds into simpler products, including bio-oil. In this study, healthcare waste, which typically consists of various organic materials such as medical plastics, syringes, bandages, and medical glucose bottles among other disposable items, is considered. Among these, medical glucose bottles are chosen as feedstock for pyrolysis due to their significant contribution to daily waste in the medical field and their negligible environmental and human health concerns. The pyrolysis process involves heating the medical glucose bottles to high temperatures between 400 and 500 °C in a controlled environment. This conversion process results in the production of bio-oil, char, and gases from the medical glucose bottles. The maximum yield rate of medical glucose bottle waste (MGBW) oil at 450°C of heating temperature will be solid (21%), liquid (27%), and gas (43%), with a calorific value of 42.5 MJ/kg, which is comparable to diesel. The bio-oil obtained from this process has several potential applications, such as in furnaces, and it can also be suitable for CI engines as an alternative fuel.