Session: Research Posters

Paper Number: 174338

Physicochemical, Thermal, and Tribological Properties of Pyrolysis Oil Derived From Plastic Waste 

Plastic solid waste (PSW) poses significant challenges for societies worldwide, regardless of their sustainability awareness and technological advancements. The environmental consequences of plastic pollution are well-documented, with ever-increasing levels of plastic waste on land and as marine debris. To address this issue, researchers have explored various recycling and recovery routes for PSW, with a particular emphasis on waste generated from single-life cycle plastic products. The four main routes for treating plastic solid waste are primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary recycling. Primary recycling involves reintroducing clean plastics back into the processing line to produce similar products, but is rarely used among conventional recyclers, as the recycled materials often lack the required quality. Secondary recycling, or mechanical recycling, involves processing PSW into new products without significantly altering the material's chemical structure. Tertiary recycling, also known as chemical recycling, involves the breakdown of plastic polymers into their original monomers or other valuable chemical products through processes such as thermo-chemical conversion (TCC) for fuels or monomer recovery. Quaternary recycling, or energy recovery, involves the incineration of plastic waste to generate heat or electricity.

Among the various recycling and recovery routes, the pyrolysis process stands out as a promising solution for the sustainable management of plastic solid waste. This process, which involves the treatment of PSW in inert atmospheres, leads to the decomposition of the material into smaller hydrocarbon (HC) molecules. The conversion of plastic materials to oil using the pyrolysis process has substantial environmental and economic advantages. This study investigates the physicochemical, thermal, and tribological properties of pyrolysis oil (i.e., pyro-oil) derived from plastic waste. Additionally, these properties are compared to tire-derived pyrolysis oil and a commercial engine oil. Comprehensive chemical and structural analyses were performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Furthermore, a rheological investigation was conducted to examine the plastic pyrolysis oil’s viscosity. Also, the tribological properties of plastic pyrolysis oil at different temperatures were examined by a tribometer instrument. Lastly, the wettability and thermal properties of the plastic pyrolysis oil were investigated.

The obtained results indicate that that plastic pyro-oil shares similar chemical characteristics with both tire pyro-oil and engine oil. Tribological tests reveal that the plastic pyro-oil results in lower friction at elevated temperatures compared to the other two oils. However, the plastic pyro-oil has lower thermal stability than tire pyro-oil and engine oil. Overall, this comprehensive study of plastic pyro-oil’s properties presents a possible use of plastic pyro-oil in the lubricants industry in low-temperature operating conditions.

Presenting Author: Abdullah A. Alazemi Kuwait University

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Abdullah Alazemi is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering department at Kuwait University. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in August 2017. His research focuses on numerical and experimental investigation of friction at the microscale, nanotechnology, and lubricant additives.

Authors:

Abdullah A. Alazemi Kuwait University
Abdullah F. Alajmi Kuwait University
Sultan M. Al-Salem Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research