A carbonaceous residue that requires careful management but can potentially be used as a material additive or biochar-based catalyst. 2.1 Catalytic vs. Thermal Pyrolysis
Feedstock Recycling and Pyrolysis of Waste Plastics: A Comprehensive Analysis 1. Introduction
Pyrolysis involves heating plastic waste to temperatures typically between
The accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic waste (PW) has become a global crisis, particularly in developing nations with inadequate waste management infrastructures. Mechanical recycling, while efficient for clean, single-stream plastics like PET, often fails to handle mixed, contaminated, or multi-layered materials. Feedstock recycling, or chemical recycling, addresses this by breaking down plastic polymers into their original monomers or other valuable chemical feedstocks. Pyrolysis, a thermochemical decomposition process occurring in the absence of oxygen, stands out as a primary technology for converting these "hard-to-recycle" wastes into liquid fuels and chemicals. 2. The Pyrolysis Process: Mechanisms and Parameters
in an inert atmosphere. This process reverses the polymerization that originally created the plastic, yielding three primary products:
Thermal pyrolysis relies solely on heat, often requiring higher temperatures and resulting in a broader product distribution. introduces catalysts—such as Zeolite Y or Ni-modified zeolites—to lower reaction temperatures, increase the yield of specific fractions (like gasoline or aromatics), and improve the quality of the resulting oil.
A high-value hydrocarbon mixture suitable as a refinery feedstock or fuel.
This paper explores the technical, environmental, and economic landscapes of . As global plastic production continues to surge, traditional mechanical recycling and incineration face significant limitations, positioning chemical recycling—specifically pyrolysis—as a critical pathway toward a circular economy.
