THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF MIXED PLASTIC WASTE TO AROMATICS AND GAS

A poly(vinylchloride) (PVC)-poor light fraction separated from mixed p lastic waste (MPW) collected from German households by DSD was pyrolyz ed in a technical scale fluidized bed reactor to yield aromatic oils a nd heat-providing gas. The most important target products were benzene , toluene, xylenes and styrene with a total yield of 31.4% by weight ( referring to the total organic input). Additionally, pyrolysis gas wit h a high calorific value of 50 MJ/kg was obtained. Problematic polluta nts, such as chloro-organic compounds and heavy metals, were absent or immobilized during the pyrolysis reaction in a matrix of carbon black . (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited