Random mixtures of waste plastics raw materials were thermolysed into liquid hydrocarbons at laboratory scales in a batch process by
using a stainless steel reactor. Two series of experiments were carried out with random mixtures of waste plastics such as low and high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene in the presence of 10 and 20 % calcium carbonate, respectively, at temperatures between 100 and 430 oC. Four types of randomly mixed waste plastics were used in each series of experiments. The hydrocarbon oils formed were analyzed by using a gas chromatography and mass spectrometer (GC/MS) to determine the amounts and types of hydrocarbons. By using 10% calcium carbonate, the formed hydrocarbon mixture contained C4 to C40 compounds while, in the presence of 20% calcium carbonate, the product consists of C3 to C27 hydrocarbons determined by GC/MS analysis. Due to the high number of hydrocarbons in the oils formed in each series of thermal decomposition experiment, the oily products can be used as fuels for internal combustion engines or electric power plants.
Key words: waste plastics, thermal degradation, hydrocarbon, fuel, municipal, conversion, calcium carbonate, GC/MS
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