Characterization of Gasoline-like Transportation Fuels Obtained by Distillation of Pyrolysis Oils from Plastic Waste Mixtures

Pyrolysis of plastic wastes is a promising method to produce value-added liquid transportation fuels, as it also reduces the accumulation of plastic wastes and prevents them from landfilling. In this study, waste plastic gasoline (WPG) produced by atmospheric distillation of pyrolysis oils was characterized and compared to the transportation fuel standards. Low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were blended with mass ratios representing the plastic demands in Hungary, EU, and the world, as these mixtures are promising candidates for the formation of gasoline-like fuels by pyrolysis. Typically, a 473-512 g/kg(waste) WPG yield was produced, and the fuels were tested in a traditional spark-ignition engine without any modifications or fuel blending. The olefin content and the distillation properties of the WPG were out of the EN228 limits, but the rest of the investigated parameters fulfilled the requirements. Based on the engine tests, a slight decrease in gasoline fuel consumption was noticed compared to commercial gasoline (RON = 95); however, a slight increase in NOx was also demonstrated. Results indicate that the initial solid waste blend dictates the composition of the WPG, and the concentrations of the different components can be affected by the recipe of the materials used.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that pyrolysis of plastic waste can produce waste plastic gasoline (WPG) that meets transportation fuel standards, although there are issues with olefin content and distillation properties exceeding limits. Engine tests show a slight decrease in fuel consumption with WPG compared to commercial gasoline, but a slight increase in NOx emissions.