Increasing the stream of recycled plastic necessitates an approach beyond the traditional recycling via melting and re-extrusion. Various chemical recycling processes have great potential to enhance recycling rates. In this Review, a summary of the various chemical recycling routes and assessment via life-cycle analysis is complemented by an extensive list of processes developed by companies active in chemical recycling. We show that each of the currently available processes is applicable for specific plastic waste streams. Thus, only a combination of different technologies can address the plastic waste problem. Research should focus on more realistic, more contaminated and mixed waste streams, while collection and sorting infrastructure will need to be improved, that is, by stricter regulation. This Review aims to inspire both science and innovation for the production of higher value and quality products from plastic recycling suitable for reuse or valorization to create the necessary economic and environmental push for a circular economy.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/anie.201915651

Beyond Mechanical Recycling: Giving New Life to Plastic Waste

The thermal stability and kinetics of non-isothermal degradation of polypropene and polypropene composites filled with 20 mass% vigorously grounded and mixed raw rice husks (RRH), black rice husks ash (BRHA), white rice husks ash (WRHA) and Aerosil Degussa (AR) were studied. The calculation procedures of Coats - Redfern, Madhysudanan et al., Tang et al., Wanjun et al. and 27 model kinetic equations were used. The kinetics of thermal degradation were found to be best described by kinetic equations of n-th order (Fn mechanism). The kinetic parameters E, A, ΔS≠, ΔH≠ and ΔG≠ for all the samples studied were calculated. The highest values of n, E and A were obtained for the composites filled with WRHA and AR. A linear dependence between lnA and E was observed, known also as kinetic compensation effect. The results obtained were considered enough to conclude that the cheap RRH and the products of its thermal degradation BRHA and WRHA, after vigorously grounding and mixing, could successfully be used as fillers for polypropene instead of the much more expensive synthetic material Aerosil to prepare various polypropene composites.

http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0000524&mi=c

Non-isothermal degradation kinetics of filled with rise husk ash polypropene composites

In present study, we investigated jet fuel production process, including the crude oil-based conventional process, unconventional oil sources-based process, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (F-T) process and renewable jet fuel process and analyzed the details of each jet fuel production process. Among these jet fuel production technologies, the F-T synthesis and renewable jet fuel process supply alternative fuels with potential environmental benefit of reduced life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the economic benefits associated with increased fuel availability and lower fuel costs. The F-T synthesis has a major advantage with the possibility of accepting any carbon-based input, which makes it suitable for using a variety of sources such as coal, natural gas and 2nd generation biomass as feedstocks. The renewable jet fuel process such as Bio-Synfining (TM) (Syntroleum) and Ecofining (TM) (UOP) as well as C-L (TM) (Tianjin University) is a low capital cost process of producing high quality synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) from bio-renewable feeds like vegetable oils/fats and waste cooking oils/fats, greases, energy plants of jatropha and algal. The SPK has superior fuel properties to other options available today, with higher cetane number, lower cloud point and lower emissions (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

/pdf/technical-review-on-jet-fuel-production-2kqnttyttf.pdf

Technical review on jet fuel production

A method for in situ heating of a selected portion of a targeted organic-rich rock formation such as an oil shale formation is provided. The method includes the steps of providing casing in a wellbore extending to a depth within or below the selected portion of the organic-rich rock formation, and also providing a tubing within the casing. An annular region is formed between the tubing and the surrounding casing. Air or other oxidant and a combustible fuel are injected into the wellbore. Either the air or the combustible fuel is in stoichiometric combustion excess. The method also includes providing hardware in the wellbore so as to cause the air and the combustible fuel to mix and to combust at substantially the depth of the organic-rich rock formation. The hardware may include more than one burner. Insulation may be placed along the tubing adjacent the first burner in order to reduce the heat transfer coefficient within the tubing and to provide a more uniform temperature within the annulus.

Downhole burner wells for in situ conversion of organic-rich rock formations

A method of producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface organic-rich rock formation, for example an oil shale formation, in which the oil shale formation contains water-soluble minerals, for example nahcolite, is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of heating the organic-rich rock formation in situ. Optionally, this heating step may be performed prior to any substantial removal of water-soluble minerals from the organic-rich rock formation. In accordance with the method, the heating of the organic-rich rock formation both pyrolyzes at least a portion of the formation hydrocarbons, for example kerogen, to create hydrocarbon fluids, and converts at least a portion of the water-soluble minerals, for example, converts nahcolite to soda ash. Thereafter, the hydrocarbon fluids are produced from the formation.

In situ co-development of oil shale with mineral recovery

Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of polypropylene, oil shale, and their mixture

Oil shale integrated processing and an exhaustive utilization of its energy and chemical potential are described herein. The principal features of this method are two-stage oil shale processing and power cogeneration by means of the combined-cycle turbine unit As a result of the two-stage processing, two principal products—gas and liquids—are obtained. The gas is used for power production in a combined-cycle unit The liquid products have a simpler composition, as compared to the usual shale oil, and can be an excellent source for the production of chemicals. This scheme is more effective from the technical and economical point of view and less harmful to the environment than usual retorting or direct oil shale combustion. Preservation of the environment is achieved through the use of high-quality, ashless, moistureless, and sulfurless gas fuel in place of oil shale (or sulfur-rich shale oil), and elimination of other wastes.

Integrated Oil Shale Processing into Energy and Chemicals Using Combined-Cycle Technology

Utilization of waste polymers through one-stage low-temperature pyrolysis with oil shale

Secondary pyrolysis of products of Israeli oil shale processing was studied in a two-stage bench-scale unit. The gas and oil vapors generated from the primary pyrolysis were sent to the converter f...

Secondary Pyrolysis of the Products of the Thermal Destruction of High-Sulfur Oil Shale

Reserves, characteristics, energetics, chemistry, and technology of Israeli oil shales are described. Oil shale is the only source of energy and the only organic natural resource in Israel. Its reserves of about 12 billion tons will be enough to meet Israel's requirements for about 80 years. The heating value of the oil shale is 1,150 kcal/kg, oil yield is 6%, and sulfur content of the oil is 5-7%. A method of oil shale processing, providing exhaustive utilization of its energy and chemical potential, developed in the Technion, is described. The principal feature of the method is a two-stage pyrolysis of the oil shale. As a result, gas and aromatic liquids are obtained. The gas may be used for energy production in a high-efficiency power unit, or as a source for chemical synthesis. The liquid products can be an excellent source for production of chemicals.

Valentin Fainberg

Papers

Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of polypropylene, oil shale, and their mixture

Integrated Oil Shale Processing into Energy and Chemicals Using Combined-Cycle Technology

Utilization of waste polymers through one-stage low-temperature pyrolysis with oil shale

Secondary Pyrolysis of the Products of the Thermal Destruction of High-Sulfur Oil Shale

Oil Shale as an Energy Source in Israel