Effects of Heating Rate and Temperature on the Thermal Pyrolysis of Expanded Polystyrene Post-Industrial Waste

Abstract

The use of plastic as material in various applications has been essential in the evolution of the technology industry and human society since 1950. Therefore, their production and waste generation are high due to population growth. Pyrolysis is an effective recycling method for treating plastic waste because it can recover valuable products for the chemical and petrochemical industry. This work addresses the thermal pyrolysis of expanded polystyrene (EPS) post-industrial waste in a semi-batch reactor. The influence of reaction temperature (350–500 °C) and heating rate (4–40 °C min−1) on the liquid conversion yields and physicochemical properties was studied based on a multilevel factorial statistical analysis. In addition, the analysis of the obtaining of mono-aromatics such as styrene, toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, and α-methyl styrene was performed. Hydrocarbon liquid yields of 76.5–93% were achieved at reaction temperatures between 350 and 450 °C, respectively. Styrene yields reached up to 72% at 450 °C and a heating rate of 25 °C min−1. Finally, the potential application of the products obtained is discussed by proposing the minimization of EPS waste via pyrolysis.