Alternate methods for disposal of plastics

1. Incineration:

An alternative method of waste disposal to landfill is waste incineration. Waste

incinerators use the process of combustion to convert the waste materials into carbon dioxide and
water. Incineration residues usually consist of small quantities of HCl, S, and other volatile
compounds and ash. Reduction of waste volume by 80 - 90% is achieved with incineration.
Therefore, it should be considered as a means of reducing the amount of waste to be disposed of
by landfill rather than a method of ultimate disposal on its own. Combustion can be regarded
either as a pretreatment method for the waste prior to its final disposal or as a means for
increasing value to waste by energy recovery. Co-combustion is regarded as one of the most
promising means for economic and safety reasons. Waste combustion with energy recovery is
usually cost-effective only in large, heavily populated metropolitan areas.

This approach becomes less appealing with low fossil fuel cost, strong markets for paper,
and the necessity for disposing of a substantial volume of residue, a part of which may be
hazardous. However, the main problems to be addressed prior to extensive utilization of this
method are the finite risk of contamination, noise, odor, fire and explosion hazards, vegetation
damage, ground water pollution, and air pollution. Polymers are made from oil; it is not
surprising that they are quite good fuel sources when they are burnt. The amount of energy that
can be recovered depends on the calorific c value of the material. Literature values tend to give
an average calorific value of mixed plastic waste as 35 MJ/kg. When compared to paper (16
MJ/kg) and organic waste (3 MJ/kg), it can be seen that plastics give a relatively high energy
return when incinerated.

2. Pyrolysis:

Pyrolysis is the thermal degradation of macromolecules in the absence of air, and it

generates oils and gases, which are suitable for chemical utilization or generation of energy.
High-molecular weight substances cannot be purified by physical processes like distillation,
extraction, or crystallization. They can only be recycled by pyrolysis of their macromolecules
into smaller fragments. Pyrolysis can be used to convert mixed plastic wastes to oil products,
combustible gas and heavy residues. The pyrolysis products may then be suitable for common
petrochemical separation processes. In fact, the pyrolysis products consist of 34% ethylene, 9%
propane, 39.7% oil (mainly aromatic compounds), and 1.7% residue. Pyrolysis can be split into
two types, both carried out in an oxygen depleted environment. Low temperature pyrolysis (450-
600 °C) is a depolymerisation technique, whilst high temperature pyrolysis (750-950 °C) is a
thermal degradation technique.
3. Hydrogenation:

This is very similar to pyrolysis, but in this process the mixed plastic waste (MPW) is
heated with hydrogen. As the molecules are cracked (the process is often termed hydro cracking,
they are saturated with the hydrogen molecules to produce a saturated liquid and gaseous
hydrocarbons. The synthetic crude oil produced is of a very high quality. It is necessary to keep
the pressure of the hydrogen sufficient to suppress repolymerisation or the generation of
undesirable by-products.

4. Gasification:

Gasification technology is based on the use of partial combustion. It was originally

developed for use with coal and oil. There are a number of variations, depending upon the type
of gases used. These include oxygen in the form of air, steam, pure oxygen, oxygen enriched air
or carbon dioxide. The temperature required also depends on the type of fuel. It generally falls in
the range 800-1600 °C. Gasification is favoured for fuel gas production since a single gaseous
product is formed at high efficiency without requiring expensive and potentially dangerous
separation plants. The synthetic gas produced can be classified according to its composition, heat
value and application. The bulk of the carbon present in the waste feedstock is converted to gas
leaving a virtually inert ash residue for disposal.

5. Plasma Pyrolysis Technology (PPT):

Plastic waste disposal through plasma pyrolysis is a state of the art, technology, which
integrates the thermo-chemical properties of plasma with the pyrolysis process. In plasma
pyrolysis, firstly the plastic waste is fed into the primary chamber at 850oC through a feeder. The
waste material dissociates into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, higher hydrocarbons etc.
Induced draft fans drains the pyrolysis gases as well as plastics waste into a secondary chamber,
where these gases are combusted in the presence of excess air. The inflammable gases are ignited
with high voltage spark. The secondary chamber temperature is 1050oC. The hydro carbon,
carbon monoxide and hydrogen are combusted into safe carbon dioxide and water. The process
conditions are maintained so that it eliminates the possibility of formation of toxic dioxins and
furan molecules.