Analysis of Tar and Oil Derived from Pyrolysis and Copyrolysis of Waste Plastics and Biomass

Gowda, Anitha S.; Karadimas, Dimitrios; Seay, Jeffrey R.

doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.4c04862

Analysis of Tar and Oil Derived from Pyrolysis and Copyrolysis of Waste Plastics and Biomass

Journal Article · Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.4c04862· OSTI ID:2565918

Gowda, Anitha S. ^[1]; Karadimas, Dimitrios ^[2]; ^[2]

National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States)
Univ. of Kentucky, Paducah, KY (United States)

Pyrolysis has been proposed as a potential technology for managing the growing volume of plastic waste generated worldwide. Co-pyrolysis of plastic waste with biomass is a promising technology for generating fuel and chemical products. However, this process generates tar as a waste product. The chemical properties of this tar have yet to be thoroughly analyzed. Further, this study presents the results of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of oil and tar obtained from the pyrolysis of pure plastics including high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and plastic-biomass mixtures. GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of C₇–C₃₇ carbon-containing hydrocarbons, which include alkanes and alkenes as the dominant products. FTIR data revealed the presence of various functional groups, including alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids, indicating the complexity of the pyrolysis and copyrolysis oil obtained from waste plastics and biomass. TGA data show that tar from all four plastics has a higher decomposition rate, suggesting the presence of heavier hydrocarbons compared with their corresponding oils. This research will be of interest to researchers looking to advance the study of plastic and biomass waste management.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)

OSTI ID:: 2565918

Journal Information:: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 64; ISSN 0888-5885

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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