DESIGN OF LOW COST PYROLYSIS MACHINE FOR

PLASTIC WASTES CONVERSION INTO LIQUID

HYDROCARBON FUEL

Submitted to

Prof. Devender Singh

Co-ordinator, Project-Varanasi
Department of Electrical Enginnering
IIT (BHU)

Submitted by

Prof. M.A. Quraishi

(Ph.D., D.Sc., Fellow Royal Society of Chemistry U.K.)
Principal Investigator
Department of Chemistry
IIT (BHU)
Introduction

Waste Plastic problem is an ever-increasing menace for global environment.

According to a nationwide survey conducted in the year 2003, more than 10000 MT of
plastic waste is generated daily in our country and only 40% by wt. of the same is recycled.
Balance 60% is not possible to dispose off. It is projected that annual plastic waste will reach
about 8 million tons annually by the end of the 2015AD. Since only 40% is recycled, the
accumulation will go on increasing year by year, there by leading to
 Clogging the drains and health hazard.
 Serious environmental problem disposal problems
 Wastage and non utilization of high energy material
As the plastic waste segregation is difficult it is essential to have novel technologies
for plastic waste disposal. Today, sophisticated technologies are available for plastic waste
management. Pyrolysis is one such technique used not only for waste disposal but to
produce useful products like industrial diesel, gaseous fuel, carbon black etc. This project
discusses the pyrolysis of waste plastics into useful gaseous and liquid fuels along with
carbon black.

Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is the thermal degradation of waste in an oxygen-starved environment in
which the oxygen content is low for gasification to take place. Pyrolysis liquefaction is a
non-combustion heat treatment that catalytically decomposes waste material by applying
heat, directly or indirectly to the waste material in an oxygen free environment. It is an
endothermic reaction which requires an input of energy that is typically applied indirectly
through the walls of the reactor in which the waste material is fed into. Pyrolysis liquefaction
occurs under pressure and at operating temperatures above 430 oC.

Methodology

After collecting waste plastic material it will be graded to uniform size using shredder and
cutter. The graded feed will be mixed with catalyst and fed into reactor with suitable catalyst
and will be heated to 400-500 oC at atmospheric pressure in presence of catalyst plastic will
change in to hydrocarbon. The gases hydrocarbon shall be condensed and separated into
liquid and gaseous streams. Following parameters shall be analyzed as per standard ASTM
methods.
Following parameters will be analyzed using ASTM methods at IIP Dehradun
1. Density
2. Acidity (mg KOH/gm)
3. API Gravity
4. Flash Point
5. Kinematic viscosity
6. Colour
7. Conradson Carbon residue
8. Asphaltine content
9. Ash Content
10. Aniline point Index
11. Pour Point
12. Specific gravity
13. Sulphur content
14. Colorific value

Advantages

(1) Problem of disposal of waste plastic will be solved.

(2) Waste plastic will be converted into high value fuels.
(3) Environmental pollution is controlled.
(4) Industrial and automobile fuel requirement shall be fulfilled to some extent at lower
price.
(5) No pollutants will be created during cracking of plastics.
(6) The crude oil and the gas can be used for generation of electricity.

Applications of liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

(a) D.G sets for generation of electricity

(b) Fuel for agricultural pumps
(c) Fuel for boiler
(d) Marine fuel (Bunker fuel)
(e) As input feed for petroleum refineries
End use for gas

(a) For in-house consumption

(a) Thermal power plants
(b) Metallurgical industries

References

1. http/www.ehevron.eom/products/ourfuels/prodserv/fucls/docuvnenls/Diesel fuel
tech Review.pdf
2. http://www.chevron.com/products/ourfuels/prodserv/fuels/documents/Motor_Fuel
s_Tch_Rvw_complete.pdf
3. Thermal and catalytic conversion of waste polyolelines by Jerzy Mieczyslaw
Steininger Walendziewski and Mieczyslaw Steininger Institute of Chemistry and
Technology of Petroleum and Coal, Wroclaw University of Technology, ul.
( i d a n s k a 7/9. 50-344 Wroclaw , Poland.
4. Engine fuel derived from waste plastics by thermal treatment Jerzy Walendziewski
Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum and Coal, Technical University
of Wroclaw, ul. Gdnska 7/9,50-310, Wroclaw, Poland.
5. Continuous flow cracking of waste plastics by Jerzy Walendziewski Institute of
Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum and Coal, Wroclaw University of
Technology, ul. Gdahska 7/9, 50-310 Wroclaw, Poland.
6. Thermal degradation of polyethylene and polystyrene from the packaging industry
o v e r different catalysts into luel-like feed stocks by N. Miskolczi , L. Bartha and
Uy. Deak University of Veszprem, Department of Hydrocarbon and Coal Processing,
Egyetem Street 10, Veszprem H-8200, Hungary
7. http ://www.goodnewsindia.com/index.php/Magazine/story/alkaZ
8. Website: www.wastecare.com.