Valorization of Waste Plastics to Produce Fuels and Chemicals

Abstract

The increase in the use of plastic products caused the major worldwide disposal problem of plastic solid waste (PSW). Plastics are becoming appropriate materials of interest for everyone due to their attractive applications in households, packaging, healthcare, and industries owing to their durability and versatile functionality at affordable prices. Statistics show that a large number of waste plastics are dumped in landfills, and only a tiny amount of plastic is recycled for making valuable materials e.g., shampoo bottles, film, sheets, trash bags, kitchen-wares and packing materials. About 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in India every day, of which 40% remains uncollected and littered leading to adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Further, the incineration of plastic wastes emits many harmful gases such as nitrous oxide, sulfur oxides, dust clouds, dioxins and other toxins that pollute the atmosphere. To reduce waste plastics generation in the environment, the Indian government has implemented the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and its amendments, which explain ways for collection and management of plastic waste, its recycling, and utilization. Plastic wastes can be valorized to produce fuels using techniques such as thermal degradation, catalytic cracking, and gasification. This chapter is focused on waste plastic handling approaches, and novel routes to convert plastic wastes into energy and other valuable chemicals. This approach may compensate for high-energy demands and plastic waste management.