A Comparison of Gasification with Pyrolysis for the Recycling of Plastic Containing Wastes

Abstract

In the present investigation, pyrolysis and gasification, two widely used thermochemical processes, are compared as potential chemical recycling methods for MWP and plastic rich MSW in terms of products of high value and their end uses. High temperature pyrolysis results in a wide spectrum of products which also contain monomers of C2-C4 range such as ethylene and 1,3-butadiene. Recovery of monomers from their isomers and other products is difficult and energy-intensive. Gasification breaks solid wastes into simple molecules (mainly CO & H2) which subsequently can be converted to value added liquid chemicals (namely alcohols) by a catalytic synthesis processes. Synthetic alcohol then can be converted to the desired petrochemical precursors. After reviewing different aspects of both pyrolysis and gasification, recycling through gasification is chosen as the preferred route for project SPORT as syngas product can be converted into several key petrochemical products in high yield.