STUDY OF PYROLYSIS AND INCINERATION OF DISPOSABLE PLASTICS USING COMBINED TG FT-IR TECHNIQUE/

Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) provides information regarding mass ch anges in the sample resulting from heat treatment under controlled env ironment. However, it does not provide any chemical information regard ing the gases evolved during the thermal degradation. Using FT-IR spec trometry in combination with TG, it is often possible to identify the evolved gases, and also monitor their evolution profiles during therma l degradation. In this study, we present the TG/FT-IR combined analysi s of incineration and pyrolysis of some common plastics such as high d ensity polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene ter ephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS). This study demonstrates the ut ility of such combined analysis in providing useful information regard ing the use of thermal treatment for recycling or incineration.