Thermal degradation of polystyrene

Thermal degradation of plastic wastes offers the possibility of recovering energy and useful chemicals. Polyethylene and polypropylene pyrolysis have been discussed already in previous works (E. Ranzi, M, Dente, T. Faravelli, G. Bozzano, S. Fabini, R. Nava, V. Cozzani, L. Tognotti, J. Anal. Appl. Py rol., 40-41 (1997) 305-319 and T. Faravelli, G. Bozzano, C. Scassa, M. Pere go, S. Fabini, E. Ranzi, M. Dente, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol., 52 (1999) 87-103) . This paper aims to develop a detailed kinetic model of polystyrene therma l degradation. The predictions of overall rates of degradation and volatile product distribution are compared with experimental results obtained by di fferent authors at different pressure and temperature conditions. In order to reduce the computing times required by the numerical integration of the kinetic model, a flexible lumping procedure has also been introduced. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.