NEW VALUABLE PRODUCTS FROM WASTE PLASTIC RECYCLING BY THERMAL DEPOLYMERIZATION METHOD

References: 14th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2014, www.sgem.org, SGEM2014 Conference Proceedings, ISBN 978-619-7105-16-2 / ISSN 1314-2704, June 19-25, 2014, Book 4, Vol. 2, 167-174 pp

ABSTRACT
Our study presents the results obtained in an industrial application of waste plastic
recycling by thermal depolymerization. The recycling unit has as main equipment a
rotary reactor were the waste plastic is decomposed in order to obtain valuable products:
a gas and a liquid fraction. The liquid fraction is useful for many applications. For a
better characterization we separated the liquid fraction in other two fractions, a light one
(65-175⁰C) and a heavy one (>175⁰C). In order to obtain solvents used as cleaning
agent or paint thinner we separated the liquid fraction by distillation in other three
fractions. The heavy fraction was an excellent source for carbon foams used as
insulating material in industrial applications.

Keywords: waste plastic, thermal depolymerization, distillation, solvents