Process targeting: An energy based comparison of waste plastic processing technologies

James A. Fox and Neil T. Stacey

Energy, 2019, vol. 170, issue C, 273-283

Abstract: The production and demand for plastic products is set to only increase in the near future, despite efforts to curtail this demand. This increased demand and production comes with an increase in plastic waste, which already sees millions of tonnes discarded into landfills every year. Growing concern over the effects of this waste on the world's ecosystems has led to urgent interest in technologies for chemically converting waste plastic into other products. This manuscript uses process synthesis techniques to analyse and compare the relative performance of two commonly used chemical conversion processes: polyethylene pyrolysis and polyethylene gasification. This analysis technique is unique in that energy forms the basis of the analysis but also allows environmental and economic concerns to be considered simultaneously.

Keywords: Process synthesis; Process systems design; Polyethylene gasification; Polyethylene pyrolysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:170:y:2019:i:c:p:273-283

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.12.160

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