Co-pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of plastic waste with biomass waste

Abstract

In the present study, co-pyrolysis of plastic waste with biomass waste were carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer heating from room temperature to 800 °C with a heating rate of 10 °C min-1 in the presence of nitrogen atmosphere. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as plastic precursor was evaluated with cotton stalk, an agricultural waste. Synergistic effect of plastic/biomass mixture on pyrolysis process was examined and the pyrolysis kinetics was determined with the obtained data. Co-pyrolysis studies were then conducted in a fixed-bed reactor heating from room temperature to 500 °C with a heating rate of 10 °C min-1 in the presence of nitrogen atmosphere. Liquid products, bio-oils, were characterized by using GCMS and FTIR techniques. Solid products, chars, were characterized by FTIR, SEM and BET.