thermochemical recycling of plastics:

Turning plastic waste into fuels through thermochemical

recycling of plastics
Exam in Chemistry for Engineers

A Thermochemistry is an important field of study within mechanical

engineering technology that focuses on the relationships between chemical
reactions and the transfer of heat energy. It involves the application of
thermodynamic principles, such as enthalpy and entropy, to predict and
understand the energy requirements and outputs of different chemical
processes.
Gleans Cruz, Archie Tengco. Ronnick Dela Tonga
Polytechnic University of the Philippines ¿ Department of I-Technology

the total amount of energy released after the full

Abstract
Introduction
Many chemical reactions are combustion
reactions. It is often important to know the
energy produced in such a reaction so that we
can determine which fuel might be the most
efficient for a given purpose. The molar heat of
combustion (He) is the heat released when one
mole of a substance is completely burned. The
term "heat of combustion" is frequently used
interchangeably with "calorific value," which is
combustion of a given mass of a substance in the
presence of (enough) oxygen under typical
conditions of pressure and temperature. When
hydrocarbons are used as fuels, their potential is
typically measured in terms of calorific value,
which is based on the combustion reaction they
go through with oxygen to produce water and
carbon dioxide. You can calculate a substance's
higher calorific value by reheating all the
combustion byproducts to their original
temperature (the temperature of the reaction
environment before the combustion took place).
It's significant to remember that this also entails
the condensation of any vapour generated by
the combustion event. Additionally, it should be
emphasized that these measurements are often
carried out in a reaction environment with a
constant temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.
We, the college students, were tasked with
conducting an experiment to measure the heat of
combustion and it is objective was to determine
heats of combustion of a 70% isopropyl alcohol.
A simple calorimeter model was used in the
previous experiment to measure the heat of
combustion of common fuels (which are not
typically thought of as fuels), and the results
Journal
allowed us to calculate the amount of heat that a
70% isopropyl alcohol could produce.
Materials And Methods
The supplies required to complete the activity
were listed before the experiment could begin.
In order to conduct the experiment, the
following supplies will be needed: a fuel lamp,
which is a type of lighting device that burns fuel,
an empty aluminum can, water, a scale for
weighing or measuring mass, fuel (70%
isopropyl alcohol), a laboratory tripod, a digital
thermometer, and also a lighter or igniter.
There are three (3) attempts for this experiment
and here are the procedures for the first one.
First, poured 100 grams of water inside the
aluminum can. Then, poured 50 grams of
isopropyl inside the fuel lamp. Settled the
aluminum can on top of the tripod with the fuel
lamp on the bottom. The water's initial
temperature was measured and determined to
be 36°C. Ignited the fuel lamp, and made sure
that the fire can touch the aluminum can. Waited
a minute for the water to heat up inside the
aluminum can. After a minute of heating, the
water's final temperature was measured and
determined to be 41.1°C. The water's final mass
was weighed and determined to be still 100
grams. The fuel's final mass was weighed and
determined to be 35 grams. Converted the final
mass (g) of fuel to volume (mL). The final mass
of fuel was 35g and the density of isopropyl
alcohol is 0.786 g/mL, divide the mass to
density, which gave us the answer of 44.53 mL.
After the first attempt, the researcher waited
thirty (30) seconds to do the second attempt.
When the water has cooled, its initial
temperature was measured and determined to
be 34.8°C. The water's initial mass was weighed
and determined to be still 100 grams. The fuel's
initial mass was weighed and determined to be
35 grams. Settled the aluminum can on top of
the tripod with the fuel lamp on the bottom.
Ignited the fuel lamp, and made sure that the
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Chemistry for Engineers
fire can touch the aluminum can. Waited a
minute for the water to heat up inside the
aluminum can. After a minute of heating, the
water's final temperature was measured and
determined to be 42.1°C. The water's final mass
was weighed and determined to be still 100
grams. The fuel's final mass was weighed and
determined to be 22 grams. Converted the final
mass (g) of fuel to volume (mL). The final mass
of fuel was 22g and the density of isopropyl
alcohol is 0.786 g/mL, divide the mass to
density, which gave us the answer of or 28 mL.
For the last attempt, the researcher waited 30
seconds to do the 2nd attempt. When the water
has cooled, its initial temperature was measured
and determined to be 35.9°C. The water's initial
mass was weighed and determined to be still
100 grams. The fuel's initial mass was weighed
and determined to be 22 grams. Settled the
aluminum can on top of the tripod with the fuel
lamp on the bottom. Ignited the fuel lamp, and
made sure that the fire can touch the aluminum
can. Waited a minute for the water to heat up
inside the aluminum can. After a minute of
heating, the water's final temperature was
measured and determined to be 42.9°C. The
water's final mass was weighed and determined
to be still 100 grams. The fuel's final mass was
weighed and determined to be 16 grams.
Converted the final mass (g) of fuel to volume
(mL). The final mass of fuel was 16g and the
density of isopropyl alcohol is 0.786 g/mL,
divide the mass to density, which gave us the
answer of 20.36 mL.
Results and Discussion
Trial 1.1
100 g of 100 g of
H2O H2O
50 g of 35 g of
C3 H8 O C3 H8 O
36℃ 41.1℃
In the 1st trial we had a 100g of water with an
initial temperature of 36°C, and a 50g of
Journal Chemistry for Engineers
isopropyl alcohol. After 1 minute of the 1st trial After that we solved the molar enthalpy of
that we conducted, the temperature of the water combustion of the fuel in the 1st trial with the
is increased to 41.1°C, although the mass of the given equation, which is equal to 8.5272 kJ/mol.
isopropyl alcohol is reduced to 35g. Trial 2.1
Trial 1.2 100 g of 100 g of
m=100 g of H 2 O H2O H2O
J 35 g of 22 g of
Cp=4.18
g℃ C3 H8 O C3 H8 O
∆ T =41.1℃−36 ℃=5.1℃ 34.8℃ 42.1℃

q=m H 20 Cp ∆T In the 2nd trial we also did the same method as

we did in the 1st trial, but with a different value
(
q=( 100 g ) 4.18
J
g℃ )
( 5.1℃ ) of data. Our sample contained 35g of isopropyl
alcohol and 100g of water, which had a starting
q=2131.8 J
temperature of 34.8°C. Despite the fact that the
mass of the isopropyl alcohol has lowered to 22g
Before computing the calculations, first we after the 2nd trial we ran, the water's
solved for the energy transferred to the water, temperature has climbed to 42.1°C.
which we got a 2131.8 J of energy that is Trial 2.2
transferred to the water. Which is needed to get m=100 g of H 2 O
the molar enthalpy of combustion. J
Cp=4.18
Trial 1.3 g℃
∆ T =42.1℃−34.8 ℃=7.3℃
a . mfuel
mfuel=50 g of C 3 H 8 O−35 g of C3 H 8 O
q=m H 20 Cp ∆T
mfuel=15 g of C 3 H 8 O
g
b . nfuel C−12 x 3=36
g
mol
;
(
q=( 100 g ) 4.18
J
g℃ )
( 7.3 ℃ )
H−1 x 8=8 ; q=3051.4 J
mol
g g
O−1 x 16=16 Total=60 of C 3 H 8 O
mol mol We also solved for the energy transferred to the
water in the 2nd trial. We computed a 3051.4 J of
1 mol of C3 H 8 O
15 g of C3 H 8 O x energy that is transferred to the water with the
60 g of C 3 H 8 O given equation.
nfuel=0.25 mol of C 3 H 8 O
Trial 2.3
a . mfuel
c=∆ CH ∆ CH = ( nfuel
q
)( 1000
1 kJ
J)
mfuel=35 g of C 3 H 8 O−22 g of C3 H 8 O
mfuel=13 g of C 3 H 8 O
∆ CH =( )( )
2131.8 J 1 kJ kJ g
∆ CH =8.52 b . nfuel C−12 x 3=36 ;
0.25 mol 1000 J mol mol
g
H−1 x 8=8 ;
mol
The fuel that we burnt in the 1st trial is 15g of g g
O−1 x 16=16 Total=60 of C 3 H 8 O
isopropyl alcohol or 0.25n of isopropyl alcohol. mol mol

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Journal Chemistry for Engineers

13 g of C3 H 8 O x
1 mol of C3 H 8 O (
q=( 100 g ) 4.18
J
g℃ )
(7 ℃)
60 g of C 3 H 8 O q=2926 J
nfuel=0.22 mol of C 3 H 8 O

c=∆ CH ∆ CH = ( nfuel
q
)( 1000
1 kJ
J)
We had computed the energy transferred to
the water in the 3rd trial, that is 2926 J of energy
transferred to the water.
∆ CH =( )( )
3051.4 J 1 kJ kJ
∆ CH =13.87
0.22 mol 1000 J mol Trial 3.3
a . mfuel
mfuel=22 g of C3 H 8 O−15 g of C3 H 8 O
mfuel=7 g of C 3 H 8 O
In our 2nd trial, we burned 13g, or 0.22n, of g
b . nfuel C−12 x 3=36 ;
isopropyl alcohol as fuel. Following that, we mol
used the provided equation to find the molar g
H−1 x 8=8 ;
enthalpy of combustion of the fuel in the second mol
g g
trial, which is equal to 13.87 kJ/mol. O−1 x 16=16 Total=60 of C 3 H 8 O
mol mol
Trial 3.1
100 g of 100 g of 1 mol of C3 H 8 O
H 2O H2O 7 g of C3 H 8 O x
60 g of C 3 H 8 O
22g of 15 g of
nfuel=0.12 mol of C 3 H 8 O
C3 H8 O C3 H8 O
35.9℃ 42.9℃

Lastly, in the 3rd trial we had a 100g of water

c=∆ CH ∆ CH = ( nfuel
q
)( 1000
1 kJ
J)

∆ CH =( )( )
with an initial temperature of 35.9°C, and a 22g 2926 J 1kJ kJ
∆ CH =24.38
of isopropyl alcohol. After 1 minute of the 3rd 0.12 mol 1000 J mol
trial that we did, the temperature of the water is
increased to 42.9°C, although the mass of the
isopropyl alcohol is reduced to 15g. The fuel that we burnt in the 3rd trial is 7g of
Trial 3.2 isopropyl alcohol or 0.12n of isopropyl alcohol.
m=100 g of H 2 O After that we solved the molar enthalpy of
J
Cp=4.18 combustion of the fuel in the 3rd trial with the
g℃
provided equation, which is equal to 24.38
∆ T =42.9 ℃−35.9 ℃=7 ℃
kJ/mol.
q=m H 20 Cp ∆T
Conclusion

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