Sustainable Waste Management and Environmental Pollution Control Through Catalytic Pyrolysis by Transforming Waste Thermocol into Alternative Fuels

Expanded polystyrene (EPS), known as Thermocol, is a significant environmental concern due to its non-biodegradability and improper disposal, contributing to plastic pollution. Conventional recycling methods are often ineffective, needing a sustainable approach to convert this waste into valuable hydrocarbons. Catalytic pyrolysis offers a promising solution by breaking down waste thermocol into liquid fuels, reducing plastic accumulation while creating alternative energy sources. This study employs a biogas-fired reactor, an ecofriendly heating system, to enhance catalytic pyrolysis using Rice Husk Ash Catalyst (RHC) and Zeolite Catalyst (ZeC). A dual air and water-cooled condenser efficiently separated low and high-boiling hydrocarbons. As the high boiling hydrocarbon yield in liquid formation is higher so it was analyzed. The waste thermocol oil (WTCO) was analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and elemental analysis to determine its chemical composition and physical properties. The important innovation lies in employing a biogas-fired reactor, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting green energy utilization. RHC reduced the degradation temperature and processing duration, achieving a higher oil yield of 76% with no carbon residue. This in turn produces balanced hydrocarbons like pentane, benzene, and toluene, which predominantly contain higher aliphatic hydrocarbons. In contrast, ZeC enhanced higher cracking activity, generating a higher gas yield of 51% rather than oil yield, and predominantly contains higher aromatic hydrocarbons. WTCO derived from both catalysts exhibited similar properties to diesel, such as high calorific value and optimal density. These findings highlight that catalyst selection enables tailored hydrocarbon production from waste thermocol, advancing sustainable waste management, pollution control, and green fuel development, aligning with global environmental conservation efforts.