RECOVERY OF PLASTIC WASTE coming from THE REJECTED FRACTION OF URBAN SOLID WASTE TREATMENT PLANTS THROUGH PYROLYSIS (pyromix)
PYROMIX
This project operates in the field of chemical recycling of plastic waste coming from the rejected fraction of urban solid waste treatment plants. Different types of plastics can be found within this fraction such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), among others. Some of these groups of plastics are rarely recovered in urban solid waste treatment plants, and if so, the process does not allow an optimal selection of the material. More versatile methods are needed in order to separate the plastic waste mixtures, which have variable composition and present a high degree of pollution. Furthermore, the low quality of the recycled product obtained entail low prices, and the consequent disincentivise effect of its mechanical recycling, compared to other plastic materials such as PET or HDPE bottles.
Therefore, the material under study is one of the novelties of this project, since it is very variable and, therefore, highly heterogeneous in size, shape and composition. It is also contaminated by organic matter and other materials (for example, paper) and it presents certain degree of humidity (15-20% approximately). This material will be supplied by Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, S.A. (FCC) company, manager and operator of the Mechanical-Biological Treatment Plant in Granada metropolitan area, Ecocentral Granada.
Average composition of the organic-remain fraction in Spain (18,272,000 t/year in 2017). Source: INE (2019), compilation based on experimental characterizations carried out at Ecocentral Granada.
The figure above represents the average composition of the organic-remain fraction in Spain, according to the experimental determinations made at the Ecocentral Granada plant and to the data published by the National Institute of Statistics. The proposed project will mainly focus on PE film and the mixed plastic fraction, since they are the fractions with the lowest recycling rate. In addition, previous works carried out by the research group requesting the project at the Ecocentral Granada plant, have determined an average moisture content of 18% and a 10% of dirt content in these materials.
Amount of post-consumer plastic waste generated in Spain and main treatments in 2018. Own elaboration. Data compiled from the PlasticsEurope report “Plastics - the Facts 2019”.
The second figure shows the amount of post-consumer plastic waste generated in Spain. The percentage of plastic waste that ends up in landfill in Spain is still excessive.
Demonstrating the economic viability and the recyclability of the plastic contained in the organic remain coming from household waste, will help to achieve the objectives established in the Circular Economy Package and thereby to reduce the ocean pollution, to restrict the use of raw materials and to combat climate change, while recognizing the plastic potential as a valuable resource
MAIN OBJEcTIVE
The general objective of this research is to study the technical feasibility of the recovery of post-consumer plastic waste coming from the reject fraction from solid urban waste treatment plants, through pyrolysis to obtain liquid fuels with a similar quality to those derived from petroleum, carbonaceous materials of commercial interest and a hydrogen-rich gas.
This project aims to develop new recovery routes for the plastic waste flows generated at mechanical-biological treatment plants that are currently not recovered, ending their useful life in landfills. In particular, this project is focused on the recovery of plastic from the film fraction and the mixed fraction formed by different types of plastics.
Specific objetives
Objective 1
Objective 2
Objective 3
Improve the quality of the obtained liquid based on in-situ catalytic cracking (catalytic pyrolysis which consists in a single stage).
Improve the quality of the obtained liquid based on ex-situ catalytic cracking (catalytic pyrolysis which consists in two stages).
Development of emulsion formulation processes for liquid fuels that allow their efficient use.
Objective 4
Objective 5
Development of routes for obtaining carbonaceous materials of commercial interest and a a hydrogen-rich gas based on ex-situ catalytic cracking.
Analysis of the environmental and socioeconomic impact of the production of liquid fuels with a similar quality to those derived from petroleum, carbonaceous materials of commercial interest and a hydrogen-rich gas made from plastic waste coming from the reject fraction of urban solid waste treatment plants.
WORK PLAN
Task 1
Bibliographic review of the current situation of plastic materials coming from mechanical-biological treatment plants, mainly with regard to chemical recycling by pyrolysis.
Related to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5
Executor centre: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada
Head: Dr. Mónica Calero
Participants: Dr. Gabriel Blázquez; Dr. Mónica Calero; Dr. María Ángeles Martín-Lara; Dr. Mario J. Muñoz-Batista; Dr. Antonio Pérez; employee.
Implementation period: First and second month of the first year (M1.1, M2.1).
Task 2
Development of an experimental methodology at laboratory scale which allows the pyrolysis to be carried out at different operating conditions, as well as the collection of the generated fractions to be characterizated.
Related to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5
Executor centre: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada
Head: Dr. Mónica Calero
Participants: Dr. Gabriel Blázquez; Dr. Mónica Calero; Dr. María Ángeles Martín-Lara; Dr. Mario J. Muñoz-Batista; Dr. Antonio Pérez; employee.
Implementation period: Second and third month of the first year (M2.1, M3.1).
Task 3
Study of the in situ catalytic transformation in order to obtain an improved fuel liquid.
Related to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5
Executor centre: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada
Head: Dr. Mónica Calero
Participants: Dr. Gabriel Blázquez; Dr. Mónica Calero; Dr. Francisco Carrasco; Dr. María Ángeles Martín-Lara; Dr. Mario J. Muñoz-Batista; Dr. Antonio Pérez; Employee.
Implementation period: Fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth month of the first year (M4.1, M5.1, M6.1, M7.1, M8.1, M9.1).
Task 4
Study of the ex situ catalytic transformation in order to obtain an improved fuel liquid.
Related to objectives: 2
Executor centre: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada
Head: Dr. Mónica Calero
Participants: Dr. Gabriel Blázquez; Dr. Mónica Calero; Dr. Francisco Carrasco; Dr. María Ángeles Martín-Lara; Dr. Mario J. Muñoz-Batista; Dr. Antonio Pérez; Employee.
Implementation period: Ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth month of the first year and first and second months of the second year (M9.1, M10.1, M11.1, M12.1, M1.2, M2.2).
Task 5
Development of liquid fuels emulsion formulation processes.
Related to objectives: 3
Executor centre: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada
Head: Dr. Mónica Calero
Participants: Dra. Mónica Calero; Dr. Alejandro Fernández-Arteaga; Dr. Mercedes Fernández Serrano; Employee.
Implementation period: Ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth month of the first year and first and second months of the second year (M9.1, M10.1, M11.1, M12.1, M1.2, M2.2).
Task 6
Study of the ex situ catalytic transformation in order to obtain carbonaceous materials and hydrogen.
Related to objectives: 4
Executor centre: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada
Head: Dr. Mónica Calero
Participants: Dr. Gabriel Blázquez; Dr. Mónica Calero; Dr. Francisco Carrasco; Dr. María Ángeles Martín-Lara; Dr. Mario J. Muñoz-Batista; Dr. Antonio Pérez; Employee.
Implementation period: Third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth month of the second year (M3.2, M4.2, M5.2, M6.2, M7.2, M8.2, M9.2, M10.2).
Task 7
Analysis of the environmental and socioeconomic impact of the recycling by pyrolysis of plastic coming from the rejection fraction of mechanical-biological treatment plants for urban solid waste.
Related to objectives: 5
Executor centre: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada in collaboration with the University of Sheffield (United Kingdom).
Head: Dr. Mónica Calero; Dr. María Ángeles Martín-Lara
Participants: Dr. Mónica Calero; Dr. María Ángeles Martín-Lara; Dr. Guillermo García-García.
Periodo de ejecución: Ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth month of the second year (M9.2, M10.2, M11.2, M12.2).
Task 8
Preparation of the final report.
Related to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 y 5.
Executor centre: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada.
Head: Dr. Mónica Calero
Participants: Dr. Mónica Calero; Employee.
Periodo de ejecución: Twelfth month of the second year (M12.2).