Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative Fuels
Due to its resistance to natural degradation and decomposition, plastic debris perseveres in the environment for centuries. As a lucrative material for packing industries and consumer products, plastics have become one of the major components of municipal solid waste today. The recycling of plastics...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4563 |
| _version_ | 1797591358300487680 |
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| author | Sonil Nanda Tumpa R. Sarker Kang Kang Dongbing Li Ajay K. Dalai |
| author_facet | Sonil Nanda Tumpa R. Sarker Kang Kang Dongbing Li Ajay K. Dalai |
| author_sort | Sonil Nanda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to its resistance to natural degradation and decomposition, plastic debris perseveres in the environment for centuries. As a lucrative material for packing industries and consumer products, plastics have become one of the major components of municipal solid waste today. The recycling of plastics is becoming difficult due to a lack of resource recovery facilities and a lack of efficient technologies to separate plastics from mixed solid waste streams. This has made oceans the hotspot for the dispersion and accumulation of plastic residues beyond landfills. This article reviews the sources, geographical occurrence, characteristics and recyclability of different types of plastic waste. This article presents a comprehensive summary of promising thermochemical technologies, such as pyrolysis, liquefaction and gasification, for the conversion of single-use plastic wastes to clean fuels. The operating principles, drivers and barriers for plastic-to-fuel technologies via pyrolysis (non-catalytic, catalytic, microwave and plasma), as well as liquefaction and gasification, are thoroughly discussed. Thermochemical co-processing of plastics with other organic waste biomass to produce high-quality fuel and energy products is also elaborated upon. Through this state-of-the-art review, it is suggested that, by investing in the research and development of thermochemical recycling technologies, one of the most pragmatic issues today, i.e., plastics waste management, can be sustainably addressed with a greater worldwide impact. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:36:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-937dbce697e143f08152252d6c95ca95 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:36:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-937dbce697e143f08152252d6c95ca952023-11-18T16:56:35ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-06-011613456310.3390/ma16134563Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative FuelsSonil Nanda0Tumpa R. Sarker1Kang Kang2Dongbing Li3Ajay K. Dalai4Department of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, CanadaDepartment of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, BangladeshBiorefining Research Institute, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, CanadaNottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, University of Nottingham, Ningbo 315104, ChinaDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, CanadaDue to its resistance to natural degradation and decomposition, plastic debris perseveres in the environment for centuries. As a lucrative material for packing industries and consumer products, plastics have become one of the major components of municipal solid waste today. The recycling of plastics is becoming difficult due to a lack of resource recovery facilities and a lack of efficient technologies to separate plastics from mixed solid waste streams. This has made oceans the hotspot for the dispersion and accumulation of plastic residues beyond landfills. This article reviews the sources, geographical occurrence, characteristics and recyclability of different types of plastic waste. This article presents a comprehensive summary of promising thermochemical technologies, such as pyrolysis, liquefaction and gasification, for the conversion of single-use plastic wastes to clean fuels. The operating principles, drivers and barriers for plastic-to-fuel technologies via pyrolysis (non-catalytic, catalytic, microwave and plasma), as well as liquefaction and gasification, are thoroughly discussed. Thermochemical co-processing of plastics with other organic waste biomass to produce high-quality fuel and energy products is also elaborated upon. Through this state-of-the-art review, it is suggested that, by investing in the research and development of thermochemical recycling technologies, one of the most pragmatic issues today, i.e., plastics waste management, can be sustainably addressed with a greater worldwide impact.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4563catalystsclean fuelsco-processinggasificationliquefactionmicrowave |
| spellingShingle | Sonil Nanda Tumpa R. Sarker Kang Kang Dongbing Li Ajay K. Dalai Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative Fuels Materials catalysts clean fuels co-processing gasification liquefaction microwave |
| title | Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative Fuels |
| title_full | Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative Fuels |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative Fuels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative Fuels |
| title_short | Perspectives on Thermochemical Recycling of End-of-Life Plastic Wastes to Alternative Fuels |
| title_sort | perspectives on thermochemical recycling of end of life plastic wastes to alternative fuels |
| topic | catalysts clean fuels co-processing gasification liquefaction microwave |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/13/4563 |
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