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. Feedstock Recycling and Pyrolysis of Waste Plas...
Pyrolysis involves heating plastic waste to temperatures typically between
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. The accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic waste (PW) has
A high-value hydrocarbon mixture suitable as a refinery feedstock or fuel.
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 and economic landscapes of .
A mixture of hydrogen and light hydrocarbons often recycled to power the pyrolysis reactor itself.