Relevance of the composition of municipal plastic wastes for metallurgical coke production

Melendi, Sonia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1083-3896, Diez, M.A., Alvarez, R. and Barriocanal, C. (2011) Relevance of the composition of municipal plastic wastes for metallurgical coke production. Fuel, 90 (4). pp. 1431-1438. ISSN 0016-2361

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Abstract

This study is concerned with the effects of the composition of mixed plastic wastes on the thermoplastic properties of coal, the generation of coking pressure and the quality of the resulting cokes in a movable wall oven at semipilot scale. The mixed plastic wastes were selected to cover a wide spectrum in the relative proportions of high- and low-density polyethylenes (HDPE and LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). From the results it was deduced that the reduction in Gieseler fluidity in the coal blend is linked to the total amount of polyolefins in the waste. It was also found that these thermoplastics increase the pressure exerted against the wall in the course of the coking process and that coke quality is maintained or even improved. However, when the level of aromatic polymers such PS and PET are increased at the expense of polyolefins, the coking pressure decreases. Thus, the amount of aromatic polymers such as PS and PET in the waste is critical, not only for controlling Gieseler fluidity and coking pressure, but also for avoiding deterioration in coke quality (reactivity towards CO CRI and mechanical strength of the partially-gasified coke CSR). An amount of polyolefins in the waste lower than 65 wt.% for a secure coking pressure is established.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Mathematics (former - to 2024)
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Sustainable Energy
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Materials, Manufacturing & Process Modelling
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 29 Apr 2015 10:32
Last Modified: 07 Nov 2024 12:38
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/53152
DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2011.01.011

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