ORGANIC-SOLVENT EFFECTS ON WASTE PLASTICS-LIGNITE COLIQUEFACTION

The disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) is currently one of the ma in environmental concerns especially in the industrialized regions. Co nverting the organic fraction of MSW into useful products, e.g. gas an d liquid fuels, seems to be an option of a great interest both environ mentally and economically. This paper examines the results of coliquef action of low-grade coal, e.g. lignite, with post-consumer plastics. S pecial catalysts were prepared for this purpose and tested along with different types of organic solvents. The presence of these solvents du ring the coliquefaction process almost doubled total solids conversion into gas and liquid products. Decane and toluene were found to be the best organic solvents for coliquefaction of lignite with high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polystyrene, respectively. Total solids conve rsion reached almost 90% when a two-stage process was employed. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.