OPERATING PARAMETERS OF AUTOTHERMAL PYROLYSIS OF PLASTIC WASTE IN A FLUIDIZED-BED

In this study, polyethylene was pyrolysed in the fluidized-bed pyrolys is system in a limited oxygen supply. Thus, the heat to pyrolyse the p olyethylene was made available by partial incineration of the polyethy lene, which can be referred to as autothermal pyrolysis. The fluidised bed was selected as the reactor owing to its high capacity, homogenei ty and low tar content. Experimental parameters evaluated included the effect of: (1) the pyrolysis temperatures; (2) the air factors; and ( 3) the catalyst on the liquid hydrocarbon (gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, residual) formation, and B. T. X. (benzene, tolu ene! xylene) concent ration in gasoline. Moreover, the primary composition in gasoline was analyzed. The results indicated that it is practical to recover oil fr om plastic waste using the autothermal pyrolysis system.