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U.S. Department of Energy
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Feasibility study for a demonstration plant for liquefaction and coprocessing of waste plastics and tires

Conference ·
OSTI ID:20012928

The results of a feasibility study for a demonstration plant for the liquefaction of waste polymers and the coprocessing of waste polymers with coal are presented. The study was carried out by a committee of participants from five universities, the US DOE Federal Energy Technology Center, and Burns and Roe Corporation. The study included an assessment of current recycling practices, a review of pertinent research, and a survey of feedstock availability. A conceptual design for a demonstration plant was developed and a preliminary economic analysis for various feedstock mixes was carried out. The base case for feedstock scenarios was chosen to be 200 tons per day of waste plastic and 200 tons per day of waste tires. For this base case, the return on investment (ROI) was found to range from 8% to 16% as tipping fees for waste plastic and tires increased over a range comparable to that existing in the US. A number of additional feedstock scenarios that were both more and less profitable were also considered and are briefly discussed.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy
DOE Contract Number:
FC22-93PC93053
OSTI ID:
20012928
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English