PYROLYSIS OF WASTES TOWARDS VALUE PRODUCTS

Portugal
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New University of Lisbon

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Nuno Lapa
New university of Lisbon
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa
Ed. Departamental
Piso 3, gab. 362
Campus de Caparica
2829-516 Caparica

E.ncsn@fct.unl.pt
T.+35 121 294 854 3

Visit: www.sites.fct.unl.pt

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This project studied the technical, economic and environmental viability of producing alternative liquid fuels, through pyrolysis of tyres, plastics and biomass wastes. Their deposition in landfills is not advisable, because they are mostly not biodegradable. The incineration of these wastes generates controversy and is technologically not a desirable solution, because it destroys the organic content that contains valuable hydrocarbons of great interest and simultaneously may emit pollutants. The pyrolysis of these wastes, under moderate conditions of pressure and temperature and at inert atmosphere, breaks down the polymeric structure, producing smaller intermediate species. These species can further react and produce a mixture of smaller hydrocarbon molecules, which are liquid or gaseous. These hydrocarbons can be used as fuel or as raw material for several industries. When tyres are used, an additional product is obtained, which could be upgraded to produce activated carbon for adsorption of contaminants from effluents or could be used as a solid fuel. Biomass residues are an important renewable resource of energy, being able to produce transportation liquid fuels, through a thermochemical process, pyrolysis. This process can produce charcoal, organic liquids (bio-oil), gases, acetic acid, acetone, methanol and ethanol. 

PROJECT GOALS

The aim was to study the technical, economic and environmental viability of producing alternative liquid fuels, through pyrolysis of tyres, plastics and biomass wastes. Furthermore, the first objective was the identification and characterization of the different types of biomass, plastics and used tyres to be used in the experiments and the definition of waste compositions that were tested.

FUNDING TYPE: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

BUDGET: € 32.986
SUBSIDY:

A PhD fellowship was attributed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

RESULTS:

Valuable liquid and gaseous fractions were produced through the pyrolysis of plastic wastes, used tyres and pine biomass. The chemical properties of the solid fraction was improved and allowed obtaining chars that were able to remove Pb2+ from contaminated syntehtic wastewaters.

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Location

Department of Materials Engineering
Kasteelpark Arenberg 44
3001 Leuven, Belgium