Screening of Environmental Waste Plastics to Evaluate Energy and Resource Recovery Potential Using Multi-shot Pyrolyzer
Date11th Jul 2022
Time03:00 PM
Venue Virtual Mode
PAST EVENT
Details
Non-biodegradable in nature, thrown-away culture of post-consumed plastics, toxicity and potential health hazard of chemicals present in plastics have made the plastic pollution a looming threat on human civilization and a growing concern to the natural environment in terms of global warming, climate change, loss of ecosystem and biodiversity. Among various waste materials, plastic waste has been a promising source of energy and feedstock recovery, and their conversion into valuable fuels and platform chemicals can promote sustainable management of solid wastes and circular economy. Ocean debris comprises 80% of plastic waste which also can be used as a source of energy and feedstock recovery. The present work aims at collection of beach plastic wastes from the sea shore in Chennai, India, and characterization is done to determine their composition and polymer types in order to evaluate the associated risks and health hazard related to the exposure of plastic wastes for indefinite periods in the natural environment. Firstly, to collect and characterize the thrown-away beach plastic wastes using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX) and elemental analysis. Secondly, the presence of long-chain fatty acid compounds, phthalate and non-phthalate additives in beach waste plastics were shown through thermal desorption, and their impact was discussed. Further, the quantification of pyrolysates was carried out to determine the resource and monomer recovery potential in perspectives to petrochemical industries. In addition to this, screening of various catalysts in analytical pyrolysis of waste plastics will be evaluated pertaining to the effect of feed to catalyst ratio and temperature etc.
Speakers
Mr. Subhan Kumar Pal, CH19D015
Department of Chemical Engineering