Pyrolysis of polystyrene plastic wastes with some organic compounds for enhancing styrene yield

Karaduman A.

Energy Sources, vol.24, no.7, pp.667-674, 2002 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 24 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2002
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/00908310290086590
  • Journal Name: Energy Sources
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.667-674
  • Keywords: thermal degradation, polystyrene, pyrolysis, plastic wastes, chemical recycling, THERMAL-DEGRADATION, CATALYTIC DEGRADATION, PRODUCTS, REACTOR, INDEX
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Pyrolysis of polystyrene (PS) plastic waste was investigated in this experimental work harnessing a pressured autoclave surrounded by a furnace. PS was thermally degraded with various organic compounds, such as phenol, quinone, naphthalene, and diphenylamine. Experiments varied the temperature between 350 and 450°C. The main products of PS waste pyrolysis were mainly styrene monomer, ethyl benzene, toluene, and methyl styrene. The product spectrum can be described as a function of pyrolysis temperature and used organic compounds. The yield styrene of liquid products at various temperatures and at 400°C and 60 min with organic compounds were about from 60 to 74%. The optimum pyrolysis temperature to maximize styrene monomer yield (about 60%) was 400°C, and the maximum styrene yield was obtained with naphthalene as 74% in this study. The amount of styrene was found to increase in the following order: diphenylamine < thermal < phenol < quinone < naphthalene.