Plastics to Fuel: A Comprehensive Analysis of Pyrolysis Technology and Its Application in India

Rapid production and disposal of plastics has created great environmental and logistical problems. Conventional approaches such as landfilling and open burning are plagued by limitations including shortage of land, emission of greenhouse gases and possibility of emitting dangerous by-products. Due to desire to convert post-consumer plastic waste into beneficial hydrocarbon fuels, chemical recycling process, particularly, thermal pyrolysis has become potentially worthwhile strategy. In this paper, analytical examination of this technology is performed in 2 sections. Part I is literature review critical analysis of plastic pyrolysis principles, process, significant operating parameters and technologies of reactor. It also examines the scaling, economic feasibility and high environmental consequences of the method of this conversion. Part II is case study on application of pyrolysis technology in India, which is country that has huge problems in managing large quantities of plastic waste. The case study explores the operational model, performance and socio-environmental environment of typical small to medium-scale pyrolysis plants common in the country. Results have shown that although pyrolysis is a promising path to recover resources with the use of plastic waste, it can be realized only under the condition of efficient feedstock sorting, high-emission regulation, and creation of effective economic models.