Effect of Fly Ash in Pyrolysis of HDPE, LDPE and PP Plastic Waste

Fly ash is generally obtained as a by-product from the combustion of coal and other waste materials. It is used for making bricks, but it has few limitations. The fly ash consists of Silica, Alumina, and other metal oxide components in minor quantities. Fly ash particles are observed in the range of nanometers to micrometers and can act as a catalyst in various reactions. The use of low-cost catalysts in the pyrolysis of thermoplastic waste would achieve a high percentage of low molecular weight fractions in liquid form which increases its applicability in commercial sectors. Hence, there is a need to enhance these fractions to achieve a sustainable approach in the catalytic pyrolysis process. fly ash, being a side product, is very cheap, so its effect on the plastic waste pyrolysis process has been studied. In the present research paper, Physical & chemical characterization of fly ash has been carried out. As fly ash consists of different metal oxides in proportion, its applicability in the process of pyrolysis of HDPE, LDPE, and PP waste has been studied. The different weight percent of fly ash (i.e., 5, 10, 15, 20) have been tried in all pyrolysis experiments. It has been observed that 5 wt % fly ash is effective for enhancing the yield of liquid fuel as compared to that without a catalyst. Liquid fuel obtained from catalytic pyrolysis of HDPE, LDPE, and PP waste with Fly ash consists of a high percent of low molecular weight fractions as compared to that of liquid fuel without catalyst, which has been concluded by calorific values & GC-MS result.