Operating parameters of autothermal pyrolosis of plastic waste in a fluidized bed

Abstract

In this study, polyethylene was pyrolysed in the fluidized-bed pyrolysis system in a limited oxygen supply. Thus, the heat to pyrolyse the polyethylene was made available by partial incineration of the polyethylene, which can be referred to as autothermal pyrolysis. The fluidized bed was selected as the reactor owing to its high capacity, homogeneity and low tar content. Experimental parameters evaluated included the effect of: (1) the pyrolysis temperatures; (2) the air factors; and (3) the catalyst on the liquid hydrocarbon (gasoline, die sel, fuel oil, residual) formation, and B. T. X. (benzene, tolu ene, xylene) concentration in gasoline. Moreover, the pri mary composition in gasoline was analyzed. The results indi cated that it is practical to recover oil from plastic waste using the autothermal pyrolysis system.