ECO-FRIENDLY CONVERSION OF POLYETHYLENE WASTE INTO FUELS USING PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Context: Non-biodegradable polyethylene trash has become an important environmental issue since it stays in ecosystems and landfills for a long time. We urgently need sustainable waste management solutions to address the rising worldwide usage of plastic. The purpose of this research is to examine pyrolysis as a green technique for recovering energy and reducing pollution from waste polyethylene byproducts by transforming them into useful fuel products. The methodology included gathering and cleaning samples of waste polyethylene before putting them through thermal degradation in a laboratory-scale pyrolysis reactor. A regulated temperature range of 400–500°C was used to carry out the procedure in an oxygen-free atmosphere. Gathered and examined for composition and yield using conventional characterisation methods including GCMS and FTIR were the liquid fuel, gaseous by-products, and solid char that emerged from the pyrolysis process. The results showed that a lot of the polyethylene waste was transformed into liquid hydrocarbons that looked like regular fuel and kerosene during the pyrolysis process. The operating temperature, residence duration, and feedstock quality all had an impact on the production of liquid fuel. The overall efficiency of the process was enhanced by the little production of solid residue and non-condensable gases. In conclusion, pyrolysis presents an exciting new direction for the environmentally friendly recovery of valuable fuels from polyethylene trash, which will help mitigate plastic pollution and our dependency on fossil fuels. If this technology is fine-tuned and scaled up, it might be a viable option for converting garbage into electricity in urban and industrial areas.