RECYCLING OF POLYETHYLENE WASTE MATERIALS TO USEFUL PRODUCTS VIA PYROLYSIS

RECYCLING OF POLYETHYLENE WASTE MATERIALS TO USEFUL PRODUCTS VIA PYROLYSIS.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Recycling is a dynamic process that restores the life cycle of a material. Also recycling refers to as a process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into a new product. Recycling as well reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, energy usage, water and air pollution and lower green house gas emission as compared to a plastic production. (Roach John 2003).

Polyethylene plastic bags are petroleum-based so the manufacturing process releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Some speculate that these emissions and other smog-related types of pollution accumulate over time in the atmosphere.                  Countries and large corporations are beginning to realize the threat that these plastic bags pose to our planet. Many are proposing or have already enacted laws and taxes to decrease the use of polyethylene plastic bags. Many grocery stores are even rewarding customers for bringing reusable grocery bags as an alternative to these polyethylene plastic bags. Customers choosing not to use alternatives to plastic bags either find the alternatives are inconvenient or are simply unaware of the problem at hand.

Polyethylene recycling bags are currently being used all over the world but there is currently no environmentally friendly way to dispose of them.

The rate of consumption of plastic materials in the world is highly expanding, more waste plastics are generated. In past years, their generation amount in China becomes about six million per year, according to data from the National Institute of Environmental Research (Roach John 2005).

Typically, raw materials are manufactured into products for consumption. Leftovers are then thrown away. This linear process, from extraction of raw materials, to production, then consumption and disposal, has created a waste crisis.

To reduce this one-way flow of re-sources to overburdened waste disposal facilities, materials no longer needed or wanted can be remanufactured. (Roach John 2003).

1.2 AIM

The aim is to recycle polyethylene waste materials to useful products via pyrolysis.

1.3 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this work are includes:-

(a). To collect the polyethylene waste materials (discarded water sachets plastic bottle )

(b). To carry out thermal pyrolysis of the materials at temperature of 300^oC – 350^oC

(c). To monitor the quantity of fuel gas and hydrocarbon liquids evolved

RECYCLING OF POLYETHYLENE WASTE MATERIALS TO USEFUL PRODUCTS VIA PYROLYSIS.