Hydrocarbons obtained by pyrolysis of waste materials

This paper deals with the pyrolysis of waste polymers producing valuable hydrocarbons. Municipal solid waste (MSW), municipal plastic waste (MPW), contaminated municipal plastic waste (CMPW) and automotive and electronic plastic waste (AEPW) were pyrolysed in a gas-heated reactor at 550°C at a feed rate of 10 kg/h. Pyrolysis products were separated into hydrocarbon gases, water, pyrolysis oil, heavy oil and char in a separation column. The yields of gases and pyrolysis oil were 15·8–24·2% and 35·5–55·2% respectively. Pyrolysis oil had C₅–C₃₂ hydrocarbons in the form of olefins, paraffins, aromatics, with amounts significantly affected by the raw materials. Beside hydrocarbons, water was formed from MSW raw material. The products obtained from MPW pyrolysis had the best properties for further utilisation: advanced hydrocarbon composition and low contaminant level. The highest amounts of contaminants (nitrogen, sulfur, chlorine, zinc, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, iron, chromium, etc.) were measured in the products of CMPW and MSW pyrolysis.