Pyrolysis of varnish wastes based on a polyurethane

Varnish wastes based on a polyurethane were pyrolysed in a laboratory scale reactor at different residence time of gases in the reactor. Gaseous produ cts generated were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/ma ss spectrometry (GC and GC/MS). Thirty-one organic compounds were identifie d. The yields of the products obtained depend on the pyrolysis conversion. The main compounds obtained were CO, CO2, ethylene, naphthalene and acetyle ne. A thermogravimetric analysis of these wastes was also carried out. Seve ral runs at different heating rates (5, 10, 15 and 20 degrees C min(-1)) we re performed to study the sample weight loss as a function of temperature ( between 25 and 700 degrees C). A correlation model, that considers three in dependent reactions, was applied to simulate the process. The values of the kinetic parameters were optimised. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.