Setiawan - 2021 - IOP - Conf. - Ser. - Mater. - Sci. - Eng. - 1034 - 012069

IOP Conference Series: Materials
Science and Engineering
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iCOMERA 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1034 (2021) 012069 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1034/1/012069
Characterization of fuel oil from pyrolysis waste light density

polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP)
Adhi Setiawan*, Vivin Setiani, Okta Salsha Mazdhatina
Waste Treatment Engineering, Shipbuilding Institute of Polytechnic Surabaya
ITS Sukolilo, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia
*Email: adhi.setiawan@ppns.ac.id
Abstract. Plastic is the biggest commonly used materials in daily life. The increased of use plastics in
daily life like due to their light weight, good durability, corrosion resistance, and is quite economical.
However, plastic is stable and difficult to degrade so it can cause pollution to soil and also water
ecosystems. Plastic waste for many years has been one of the main causes of flooding in several
cities in Indonesia. Pyrolysis is one of environmentally friendly technologies that can be a solution to
the plastic waste problem. Pyrolysis can convert plastic waste into liquid fuel by thermal
degradation. This research aims to synthesize liquid materials from LDPE and PP plastic waste using
pyrolysis and study the effect of variations in plastic types. Pyrolysis temperature used is 325 oC in 4
hours. The fuels obtained were analysed in nature including density, viscosity, flash point. Fuel
content was analysed using GC-MS devices. The result of research was highest viscosity (0.61 cSt)
and density (820K kg m-3) found at 100% PP plastic waste pyrolisis. 100% LDPE composition produced
liquid oil with the highest yield on a value of 26.23% and the highest gas yield obtained at 75% LDPE
composition and 25% PP (64.44%). Pyrolysis of plastic LDPE and PP produced cyclohexanedione
compounds (C9H14O2) with a fairly low percentage.
Keywords: pyrolysis, plastic waste, fuel oil
1. Introduction
The use of plastic now has become a lifestyle for modern society because of its relatively light
weight and a high degree of flexibility. Plastics are almost used in all industrial and domestic areas
so that plastic is an important material and its application in industrial field continues to increase.
Plastic in the world is produced using raw materials from petroleum or natural gas. However,
plastic can be made from natural organic materials such as sugar, corn. Plastic production
currently uses only about 4% of world oil and gas production [1]. Some types of plastic are often
produced include low density Polyethylene (LDPE), low density linear Polyethylene (LLDPE) and
high density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polystyrene and
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The amount of world plastic production in 2016 reached 335
million metric tons. China and Europe are the largest plastic producers with a production value of
25% and 18% of the world's plastic production, respectively [2]. Based on data from the Ministry of
Industry in 2018, the total national plastic production in Indonesia currently reaches 4.6 million
tons per year and has increased by 5% annually.
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution
of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd 1
Plastic waste has for many years been one of the main causes of flooding in several cities in
Indonesia. Plastic waste causes blockage of drainage systems in many areas. At the same time,
plastic waste has created very serious environmental challenges due to the large amount and
difficult to be degraded by the environment [3]. Non-biodegradable plastics require more than 400
years to degrade. The results showed that of the total amount of plastic used, only 9% plastic was
mechanically recycled, 12% was burned, and the rest filled the sea and land [4]. Plastic waste
materials have posed several threats to the environment including; increased risk of disease
transmission through malaria vectors [5]. In addition, degradation of plastics by environmental
influences can produce microplastics which are harmful to living organism. The existence of
microplastics can enter the digestive system of fish or other marine life so that it can enter the
food chain and harm human life [6]. Plastic waste processing can be carried out using several
methods including incineration, gasification, chemical recovery, and biochemical conversion [1].
However, most of these processing methods do not provide solutions that are safe for the
environment. As with the incineration process, it has the potential to produce toxic
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) that can cause health problems.
Pyrolysis is an environmentally friendly technology because it can convert plastic waste into
fuel or chemicals of economic value. Pyrolysis is basically a process of thermal degradation of long
chain polymers into shorter, simpler molecules through heat and pressure so that they are suitable
for recycling plastic waste. This process is capable of producing high amounts of fuel oil, which is
up to 80% by weight of the sample at temperatures around 300-500 °C [7]. Pyrolysis is a plastic
waste processing technology that is environmentally friendly because it does not produce
pollution, especially when applied to plastic waste that does not contain sulphur and chlorine. Oil
from pyrolysis can be used in various applications such as boilers, steam turbines, gas turbines,
and vehicle engines. In addition, gas by products have a high calorific value so that they can be
reused to supply energy needs from pyrolysis plants. The handling of the pyrolysis process is easier
and more flexible so that this technology is quite promising to be applied as a fuel producer.
Pyrolysis is known as an environmentally friendly technology and can save the use of petroleum
resources [8].
Several researchers have reported about the research results related to plastic waste pyrolysis.
Miandad et al. [8] reported pyrolysis of various types of plastic waste to study the effect of feed
composition on the results of pyrolysis products and oil composition. Susastriawan et al. [9]
conducted a study on the effect of zeolite size on plastic pyrolysis. Quesada et al. [10]
characterized the results of pyrolysis of polyethylene plastic waste at a temperature of 450-550oC.
The results of the study showed that the characteristics of fuel oil were similar to gasoline and
diesel fuels. Research on the effect of using a combination of plastic waste made from low
density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) have not been studied by some previous
researchers. Therefore, this study aims to synthesize and characterize the pyrolysis of LDPE and PP
plastic waste as an alternative producer of fuel oil and the effect of variations in the plastic
composition of fuel characteristics.
2. Experimental
2.1 Raw material

Materials used in this study include plastic waste with type LDPE consisting of 50% plastic bag
waste and 50% plastic food waste, and PP plastic consisting of 40% baby diaper plastic, 30% plastic
straws, and noodle packaging instant 30%. The plastic is dried until the water content reaches
<10% and then cut to 1-2 cm2.
2
2.2 Pyrolysis process

Thermochemical conversion of plastic waste (PP, LDPE) into fuel oil is carried out using a small
scale fixed bed pyrolysis reactor that is externally heated. The basic components of the reactor
include tubes stainless steel equipped with heating elements, thermocouples, pressure regulators,
connecting pipes as a place for gas distribution between the furnace and the condenser, and the
condenser as a cooler so that the gas turns liquid. The experiment set up is illustrated as in
Figure 1.
Figure 1. The experiment set up of pyrolysis reactor
Table 1. Plastic waste composition

Raw materials (kg)
Composition Noodle
Samples Plastic bag Plastic food Plastic
(% wt) Baby diaper packaging
waste waste straws
plastic (40%) instant
(50%) (50%) (30%)
(40%)
A LDPE 100% 0.75 0.75 - - -
B LDPE 75%: PP 25% 0.56 0.56 0.15 0.11 0.11
C LDPE 25%: PP 75% 0.19 0.19 0.45 0,34 0.34
D PP 100% - - 0.60 0.45 0.45
The type of reactor used is the reactor fixed bed using LPG heating and using the method slow
pyrolysis because it uses a temperature of 325 oC. A total of 1.5 kg of plastic samples was placed
into the reactor tube. Cover the reactor tube tightly so that there are no leaks. The reactor tube is
heated to 325 ° C for 4 hours. Plastic waste decomposes during burning into ash and produces gas
that flows from the reactor tube to the condenser through the connecting pipe. The condensed
3
gas then exits the valve condenser. The waste pyrolysis process is carried out with plastic
composition waste referring to the data in Table 1.
2.3 Fuel oil characterization

The fuels obtained were analysed included density, viscosity (ASTM D-445), flash point (ASTM D-
93). The chemical content of fuel is analysed using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass
Spectrophotometry) device.
3. Result and discussions

The main products produced from plastic pyrolysis are solids (char), liquid oil (tar), also gas.
Figure 2 shows that the plastic waste pyrolysis results with variations in LDPE and PP composition.
It showed that sample A with a 100% LDPE composition produced liquid oil with the highest yield
on a value of 26.23%. The increase in PP composition causes a decrease in liquid oil yield. In fact,
sample D with 100% PP composition tends to produce the lowest oil yield compared to other
samples. This is due to the PP plastic melting point having a higher melting point (200-300 oC) than
LDPE plastic (160-240 oC), so that the heat energy required by PP plastics to melt until it is
degraded produces gas requires more energy high compared to LDPE [11]. Gas products yield
produced from the pyrolysis process did not show a significant difference in all samples. The
highest gas yield obtained in sample B with 75% LDPE composition and 25% PP that’s 64.44%. The
increase in gas yield is due to pyrolysis synergy effect of LPPE with PP plastics during the
degradation process. Increased LDPE degradation tends to increase with increased production and
hydrogen transfer from PE [12].
80
Liquid Oil Char Gas
70
64,44%
63,27%
61,15%
61,08%
Pyrolysis Product Yields (%)
60
50
40
26,23%
22,87%
30
23,00%
22,66%
15,85%
16,26%
12,70%
20
10,50%
10
0
A B C D
Samples
Figure 2. Product yield obtained from pyrolysis of plastic waste
4
Table 2 shows the physical characteristics of pyrolysis oil. The results showed that the increase
in PP plastic composition tends to cause an increase in the density and viscosity value of oil
resulting from pyrolysis. The highest viscosity was obtained in 100% PP plastic waste pyrolysis
products. This is because the density of the plastic composition is the largest of all samples. The
increase in oil density resulting in plastic pyrolysis causes an increase in oil viscosity. The same
research results by Adoe et al. [13], stated that the pyrolysis oil viscosity value is directly
proportional to its density. The viscosity results obtained in this study still didn’t meet Pertamina's
diesel fuel criteria standards. Fuel viscosity has an important role in determining the engine
efficiency. High viscosity fuels cause imperfect atomization, leading to incomplete combustion.
However, fuels with very low viscosity can produce sprays that are too soft so that they don’t have
good penetration in combustion process [1]. The highest density value obtained in pyrolysis plastic
waste product with 100% PP (D) composition that’s equal to 820 kg m-3. This is because PP plastic
(C3H6)x has a longer molecular weight and longer molecular chain than LDPE plastic (C2H4)x. The
longer CH bond more higher the density. Based on the data in Table 2 it is shown that only 100%
PP plastic samples (sample D) meet the standards as diesel fuel. The flash point value of all
pyrolysis products obtained is still lower than the standard flash point for diesel fuel. It indicates
that pyrolysis fuel oil is more flammable compared to diesel fuel. This condition is quite dangerous
if the pyrolysis oil is used directly on the vehicle can make further processing is needed to increase
the flash point value [14]. In addition, pyrolysis product flash point with 25% LDPE composition:
75% PP (sample C) as well as 100% PP (sample D) meets the standards if compared with Pertamax
fuel quality standards. Fuel oil produced from pyrolysis with 100% LDPE composition (sample A)
and 75% LDPE: PP 25% (sample B) produces a flash point value exceeding the Pertamax gasoline
quality standard.
Table 2. Physical properties of oil plastic pyrolysis and fuel quality standard
Properties
Sample -3
Density (kg m ) Viscosity (cSt) Flash Point (oC)
A 803 0.56 32.22
B 807 0.57 33.89
C 813 0.58 26.94
D 820 0.61 26.67
Properties
Fuel Quality Standard
Density (kg m-3) Viscosity (cSt) Flash Point (oC)
Gasoline [15] 715-770 - 25-30
Diesel Fuel [16] 815-860 2-4.5 Min. 52
Table 3 shows GC-MS analysis results of oil from pyrolysis plastic waste. It’s show that the
composition of oil from pyrolysis is dominated by aliphatic hydrocarbon components and
polycyclic hydrocarbons. Based on the fuel grouping results conducted by Tulashie et al. [1],
pyrolysis oil has a hydrocarbon composition with carbon chain lengths ranging from C9-C12 so that
it contains the constituent components of petrol fuel (C4-C12) and diesel fuel (C12-C24). In addition,
in the pyrolysis process all plastic samples produce cyclohexanedione compounds (C9H14O2) with a
fairly low percentage. It’s a derivative of ketone compounds which are often used in industry as a
raw material for making polymers.
5
Table 3. Result of GC-MS for the liquid oil obtained from pyrolysis of waste plastic
%
Sample RT Chemical Compounds
Abundance
2.114 35.44 2,4-Dimethyl-1-heptene (C9H18)
4.033 7.41 Cyclohexane, 1,1,3,5-tetramethyl (C10H20 )
2.383 5.64 Cyclohexane, 1,1,3,5-tetramethyl- (C10H20)
6.979 5.61 Cyclohexane, 1,3,5-trimethyl- (C9H18)
A 2.225 4.58 Cyclohexane, 1,3,5-trimethyl- (C9H18)
(LDPE 100% ) 4.081 4.26 2-Undecene, 4-methyl- (C12H24)
7.207 3.60 4-Isopropyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (C9H14O2)
4.932 2.64 2,6-Dimethyl-2,7-octadiene (C10H18O2)
3.166 2.30 1-Hexene, 3,3,5-trimethyl- (C9H18)
2.521 2.19 Cis 3-Hexenyl Pyruvate (C9H14O3)
2,114 18.82 2,4-Dimethyl-1-heptene (C9H18)
4.039 7.12 2-Undecene, 4-methyl- (C12H24)
2.383 6.11 Cyclohexane, 1,1,3,5-tetramethyl- trans- (CAS) (C10H20)
B 4.086 4.04 2-Undecene, 4-methyl- (C12H24)
(LDPE 75% : PP 25% ) 2.23 3.97 Cyclohexane, 1,3,5-trimethyl- (C9H18)
4.933 3,34 1,5-Heptadiene, 3,3-dimethyl-, (E)- (CAS) C9H16)
3.166 2.76 4-Octene, 2,3,6-trimethyl- (C11H22)
2.299 2.34 2,4-Heptadiene, 2,4-dimethyl- (C9H16)
6.979 8.15 Cyclohexane, 1,1,3,5-tetramethyl-trans- (CAS) (C10H20)
4.034 6.04 2-Undecene, 4-methyl (C12H24)
2.384 5.51 1-Pentyn-3-ol, 3-methyl- (CAS) (C6H10O)
C
(LDPE 25% : PP 75%) 4.081 3.65 2-Undecene, 4-methyl-(C12H24)
2.299 2.87 Benzene, 1,3-dimethyl- (C8H10)
Cyclohexane, 1,3,5-trimethyl-, (1.alpha.,3.alpha.,5.beta.)
2.225 2.61
(C9H18)
7.096 2.48 1,1-dimethyl-2-propylcyclohexane (C11H22)
4.933 2.30 1,5-Heptadiene, 3,3-dimethyl-, (E)- (CAS) (C9H16)
2.384 7.38 Cyclohexanone, 3,3,5-trimethyl- (C9H16O)
D
6.979 4.57 Cyclohexane, 1,1,3,5-tetramethyl-trans (C10H2O)
(PP 100%)
2.299 4.42 Benzene, 1,3-dimethyl- (C8H10)
6
%
Sample RT Chemical Compounds
Abundance
2.341 2.64 1,3-Heptadiene, 2,3-dimethyl- (C9H16)
2.431 1.79 Styrene (C8H8)
4. Conclusions
LDPE and PP plastic waste can potentially be used as an energy source through the pyrolysis
process at low temperatures. The results showed that an increase in LDPE composition cause
higher oil product yields. The highest oil yield was obtained at LDPE 100% (sample A) with 26.23%
value. Density test results show that only 100% PP samples have met the diesel fuel density
standards. The viscosity and flash point values of all sample compositions are still lower compared
to diesel fuel standards. GC-MS results showed that all samples have a hydrocarbon composition
with carbon chain lengths ranging from C9-C12 so that they contain the constituent components of
petrol (C4-C12) and diesel fuel (C12-C24)
5. References
[1] Tulashiea SK, Boadub EK and Dapaah S 2019 Thermal Science and Engineering Progress 11
417–424
[2] Statista (2019). Global plastic production from 1950 to 2016 (in million metric tons).[online]
Available at :https://www.statista.com/statistics/282732/global-production-of-plastics-since-
950/ [accessed 8 August 2019].
[3] Miezah K, Kádár KO, Baffoe Z, and Mensah BF 2015 Waste Management 46 15–27
[4] Mangesh VL, Padmanabhan S, Tamizhdurai P, and Ramesh A 2020 Journal of Cleaner
Production 246 1–28
[5] Clapp J and Swanston L 2009 Environmental Politics 18(3) 315–332
[6] Orbmedia (2020). Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Global Drinking Water. [online]
Available at: https://orbmedia.org/stories/Invisibles_final_report, 2017 [accessed 30 July
2020]
[7] Fakhrhoseini SM and Dastanian M 2013 Journal of Chemistry 2013 1–5
[8] Miandad R, Barakat MA, Aburiazaiza AS, Rehan M, Ismail IMI and Nizami AS 2017 Int.
Biodeterior.Biodegrad 119 239–252
[9] Susastriawan AAP, Purnomo P and Sandria A 2020 Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
17 1–14
[10] Quesada L, Calero M, Martín-Lara MA and Perez A, and Blazquez G 2019 Energy 186 1–10
[11] Widi KA and Ekasari LD 2017 Journal of Flywheel 8 14–18
[12] Xue Y, Johnston P and Bai X 2017 Energy Conversion and Management 142 441–451
[13] Adoe DGH, Bunganaen W, Krisnawi IF and Soekwanto FA 2016 Journal of LONTAR 3 17–26
[14] Irawan A, Bindar Y, Kurniawan T, Alwan H, Hidayat A and Putri AHI 2019 Fuel oil production
from thermal pyrolysis of packaging plastic Proceedings of 2018 International Conference on
Mechanical Engineering Research and application, ICOMERA 2018 pp 1–6
[15] ESDM (2020). Standar dan Mutu (spesifikasi) Bahan Bakar Minyak Jenis Bensin (Gasoline)
RON 98 yang Dipasarkan dalam Negeri. [online] Available at: [https://www.jdih.
esdm.go.id.com [accessed 30 July 2020]
[16] Pertamina (2020). Spesifikasi Solar/Biosolar. [online] Available at:
https://www.pertamina.com/industrialfuel/media/6796/biosolar.pdf, 2020 [accessed 30 July
2020]

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PAPER • OPEN ACCESS You may also like

- Self-sensing performance of MWCNT-low

This content was downloaded from IP address 148.214.28.105 on 28/02/2024 at 19:57

Characterization of fuel oil from pyrolysis waste light density

Keywords: pyrolysis, plastic waste, fuel oil

2.1 Raw material

2.2 Pyrolysis process

Figure 1. The experiment set up of pyrolysis reactor

Table 1. Plastic waste composition

2.3 Fuel oil characterization

3. Result and discussions

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