Pyrocrat Systems Review on Plastic Waste Management

PYROCRAT SYSTEMS REVIEW ON PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

Pyrocrat Systems, J-103, 1st Floor, Tower No. 7, Belapur Railway Station Complex,, C.B.D. Belapur, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 400614

INTRODUCTION  The term “plastics” includes materials composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulphur.  Plastics are macromolecules, formed by polymerization and having the ability to be shaped by the application of reasonable amount of heat and pressure or any other form of forces.  It is one of the few new chemical materials which pose environmental problem.  Polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene is largely used in the manufacturing of plastics.

Background  Rapid population growth, urbanization and industrial growth have led to severe

problem of waste generation in urban centres.  The waste quantities increased from 46 million tones in 2001 to 65 million tones

in 2010.  Report says that per capita per day production will increase to 0.7 kg in 2050.  The characteristics of waste depends on various factors such as food habits,

traditions, lifestyle, climate etc.

Types of plastic materials  Plastics, depending on their physical properties, may be classified as

thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic materials.

 Thermoplastic materials can be formed into desired shapes under heat and

pressure and become solids on cooling. If they are subjected to the same conditions of heat and pressure, they can be remoulded.

 Thermosetting materials which once shaped cannot be softened/ remoulded by

the application of heat.

 Out of total uses of plastic, 80% areThermoplastic and 20% areThermosetting.

Categorization of plastic

Sources of plastic waste

Environmental Issues on disposal of PLASTIC WASTE  Plastic pollute beaches & oceans.

 Plastic bags litter the landscape.

 Plastic bags kill animals.

 During product manufacturing various types of gases are released.  Indiscriminate plastic waste disposal on land makes the land infertile due to its

impervious nature.  Burning of plastics generates toxic emissions such as Carbon Monoxide, Chlorine,

Hydrochloric Acid, Dioxin, Furans, Amines, Nitrides, Styrene, Benzene, 1, 3butadiene, CCl4, and Acetaldehyde.

 Sub-standard plastic bags, films etc. pose problem in collection and

recycling.  Littered plastics give unaesthetic look and choke the drain.  Garbage mixed with plastics interferes in waste processing facilities and

also cause problems in landfill operations.  Lead and Cadmium pigments, commonly used in LDPE, HDPE and PP as

additives are toxic and are known to leach out.  Non-recyclable plastic wastes poses disposal problem.

Plastic Waste Management ď‚— Disposal of plastic waste is a serious concern in India. New technologies

have been developed to minimize their adverse effect on the environment.

Figure 1: Co-processing of plastic waste plastic Waste Management

Conventional Technology for Plastic Waste Management  Recycling of plastics through environmentally

sound manner  Plastics recycling technologies have been historically divided into four general

types- primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary.  Steps Involved in the Recycling Process:  Selection: The recyclers/reprocessors have to select the waste /scrap which are

suitable for recycling/ reprocessing.  Segregation: The plastics waste shall be segregated as per the codes mentioned

in the BiS guidelines.  Processing: After selection and segregation of the preconsumer waste (factory

waste) shall be directly recycled. The post consumer waste (used plastic waste) shall be washed, shredded, agglomerated, extruded and granulated.

 Landfilling  Landfill is the conventional approach to waste management, but space for

landfills is becoming scarce in some countries.  A well-managed landfill site results in limited immediate environmental harm beyond the impacts of collection and transport, although there are long-term risks of contamination of soils and groundwater by some additives and breakdown by products in plastics, which can become persistent organic pollutants.  A major drawback to landfills from a sustainability aspect is that none of

the material resources used to produce the plastic is recovered.

 Incineration  Incineration reduces the need for landfill of plastics waste, however, there

are concerns that hazardous substances may be released into the atmosphere in the process.  Incineration can be used with recovery of some of the energy content in

the plastic.  The useful energy recovered can vary considerably depending on whether

it is used for electricity generation, combined heat and power, or as solid refuse fuel for co-fuelling of blast furnaces or cement kilns.

New Technology for Plastic Waste management ď‚— Polymer Blended Bitumen Road ď‚— A brief description of the technique used in laying road using plastic waste

is given in figure.

 Co-processing of Plastic waste in Cement Kiln  Co-processing of plastic waste as Alternative Fuel and Raw

Material (AFR).  Co-processing indicate substitution of primary fuel and raw material by waste.  Waste material such as plastic waste used for co-processing are referred to as

alternative fuels and raw material (AFR).  One of the advantage of recovery method used in existing facility is eliminating

the need to invest on other plastic waste practices and to secure land filling.

 Plasma Pyrolysis Technology (PPT)  Pyrolysis is the thermal disintegration of carbonaceous material in

oxygen-starved atmosphere.  The intense and versatile heat generation capabilities of Plasma Pyrolysis

technology enable it to dispose of all types of plastic waste including polymeric, biomedical and hazardous waste in a safe and reliable manner.  When optimized, the most likely compounds formed are methane, carbon

monoxide, hydrogen carbon dioxide and water molecules.

 Conversion of Plastics Waste into liquid fuel  The entire process is undertaken in closed reactor vessel followed by

condensation, if required.  Waste plastics while heating upto 2700 to 3000 C convert into liquid-

vapour state, which is collected in condensation chamber in the form of liquid fuel.  The tarry liquid waste is topped-down from the heating reactor vessel.  The organic gas is generated which can be used in dual fuel diesel

generator set for generation of electricity.

Figure 2: Schematic flow diagram of process.

CONCLUSION  Plastic Waste Management has assumed great significance in view of the

urbanisation activities.  Various strategies are being devised to mitigate the impact of plastic waste

in India.  Some significant challenges still exist from both technological factors and

from economic or social behaviour issues relating to the collection of recyclable wastes, and substitution for virgin material.