Environmental impact of pyrolysis of mixed WEEE plastics part 1:Experimental pyrolysis data

Alston, Sue M, Clark, Allan D ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2965-8941, Arnold, J Cris and Stein, Bridget K (2011) Environmental impact of pyrolysis of mixed WEEE plastics part 1:Experimental pyrolysis data. Environmental Science & Technology, 45 (21). pp. 9380-5. ISSN 0013-936X

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Abstract

Growth in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is posing increasing problems of waste management, partly resulting from its plastic content. WEEE plastics include a range of polymers, some of which can be sorted and extracted for recycling. However a nonrecyclable fraction remains containing a mixture of polymers contaminated with other materials, and pyrolysis is a potential means of recovering the energy content of this. In preparation for a life cycle assessment of this option, described in part 2 of this paper set, data were collected from trials using experimental pyrolysis equipment representative of a continuous commercial process operated at 800 °C. The feedstock contained acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and high impact polystyrene with high levels of additives, and dense polymers including polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, and polymethyl methacrylate. On average 39% was converted to gases, 36% to oils, and 25% remained as residue. About 35% of the gas was methane and 42% carbon monoxide, plus other hydrocarbons, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The oils were almost all aromatic, forming a similar mixture to fuel oil. The residue was mainly carbon with inorganic compounds from the plastic additives and most of the chlorine from the feedstock. The results showed that the process produced around 70% of the original plastic weight as potential fuel.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: acrylonitrile,butadienes,electronic waste,environment,environmental monitoring,plastics,polymers,styrene,waste management,sdg 7 - affordable and clean energy,sdg 12 - responsible consumption and production ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/affordable_and_clean_energy
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Clinical Trials Unit
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 20 Jan 2014 15:56
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2023 01:12
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/46102
DOI: 10.1021/es201664h

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