Towards high-quality petrochemical feedstocks from mixed plastic packaging waste via advanced recycling: The past, present and future

• Published in: Fuel processing technology Vol. 238; p. 107474
• Main Authors: Kusenberg, Marvin, Eschenbacher, Andreas, Delva, Laurens, De Meester, Steven, Delikonstantis, Evangelos, Stefanidis, Georgios D., Ragaert, Kim, Van Geem, Kevin M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.12.2022
• Subjects: adsorption; Advanced recycling; carbon dioxide; CO2 emission reduction; Contaminants; decontamination; feedstocks; filtration; fossils; fuels; halogens; Plastic waste; Pyrolysis; steam; Upgrading; waste management; wastes; PP; PS; SCW; WEEE; BTX; HT; PV(D)C; BFR; TRL; HDM; HDPE; P; ABS; GDP; HDO; HDN; OECD; T; Upgrading; CO2-eq; HDS; Pyrolysis; Advanced recycling; ppb; HDCl; HIPS; MOF; FCC; EVOH; ppm; PUR; REACH; PA; CCU; HVC; scCO2; Contaminants; PE; Cat; TAC; (L)LDPE; CO2 emission reduction; PET; Plastic waste; VGO
• ISSN: 0378-3820; 1873-7188
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2022.107474

Advanced plastic waste recycling via pyrolysis and subsequent steam cracking of pyrolysis oils has the potential to partly close the cycle between the petrochemical production of plastics and current end-of-life waste management (i.e., downcycling, incineration, landfilling). However, the greatest obstacle is the complex composition of real plastic waste and their contamination with numerous additives and residues. Consequently, the lower quality of pyrolysis products compared to fossil feedstocks needs to be drastically improved by universally applicable upgrading and decontamination techniques. Techniques range from waste pre-treatment to reduce the halogen and additive contents, via in-situ techniques applied during pyrolysis to post-treatment techniques to purify the obtained pyrolysis oils using hydrotreatment, filtration or adsorption. Incorporated into a petrochemical cluster, high-quality petrochemical feedstocks can be produced from plastic waste, which, combined with electrification, could lead to a CO2 emission reduction of >90% compared to incineration as the current mostly used disposal method. [Display omitted] •High contamination of plastic waste is the main bottleneck for chemical recycling.•Decontamination techniques are inevitable before, during and/or after pyrolysis.•Dehalogenation is the most effective waste pre-treatment.•Today the most efficient post-treatment is hydrotreatment and adsorption.•Smart combinations of different treatment steps have the highest economic potential.