Abstract
Over the past half-century, plastic consumption has grown rapidly due to its versatility, low cost, and unrivaled functional properties. Among the different implemented strategies for recycling waste plastics, pyrolysis is deemed the most economical option. Currently, the wax obtained from the pyrolysis of waste plastics is mainly used as a feedstock to manufacture chemicals and fuels or added to asphalt for pavement construction, with no other applications of wax being reported. Herein, the thermal pyrolysis of three common waste polyolefin plastics: high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP), was conducted at 450 °C. The waste plastics-derived waxes were characterized and studied for a potential new application: phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage (TES). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed that paraffin makes up most of the composition of HDPE and LDPE waxes, whereas PP wax contains a mixture of naphthene, isoparaffin, olefin, and paraffin. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicated that HDPE and LDPE waxes have a peak melting temperature of 33.8 °C and 40.3 °C, with a relatively high latent heat of 103.2 J/g and 88.3 J/g, respectively, whereas the PP wax was found to have almost negligible latent heat. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and DSC results revealed good chemical and thermal stability of HDPE and LDPE waxes after 100 cycles of thermal cycling. Performance evaluation of the waxes was also conducted using a thermal storage pad to understand their thermoregulation characteristics for TES applications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Xu CL, Zhang H, Fang GY (2022) Review on thermal conductivity improvement of phase change materials with enhanced additives for thermal energy storage. J Energy Storage 51:104568
Kalapala L, Devanuri JK (2019) Parametric investigation to assess the melt fraction and melting time for a latent heat storage material based vertical shell and tube heat exchanger. Sol Energy 193:360–371
Bui VP, Liu HZ, Low YY et al (2017) Evaluation of building glass performance metrics for the tropical climate. Energy Build 157:195–203
Shah KW, Ong PJ, Chua MH et al (2022) Application of phase change materials in building components and the use of nanotechnology for its improvement. Energy Build 262:112018
Zhu Q, Chua MH, Ong PJ et al (2022) Recent advances in nanotechnology-based functional coatings for the built environment. Mater Today Adv 15:100270
Ong PJ, Png ZM, Debbie Soo XY et al (2022) Surface modification of microencapsulated phase change materials with nanostructures for enhancement of their thermal conductivity. Mater Chem Phys 277:125438
Li JL, Zhang Y, Zhao YJ et al (2021) Novel high specific heat capacity ternary nitrate/nitrite eutectic salt for solar thermal energy storage. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 227:111075
Zhu Q, Wang S, Wang X et al (2021) Bottom-up engineering strategies for high-performance thermoelectric materials. Nanomicro Lett 13(1):119
Yemata TA, Kyaw AKK, Zheng Y et al (2020) Enhanced thermoelectric performance of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) with long-term humidity stability via sequential treatment with trifluoroacetic acid. Polym Int 69(1):84–92
Yildirim E, Zhu Q, Wu G et al (2019) Self-organization of PEDOT: PSS induced by green and water-soluble organic molecules. J Phys Chem C 123(15):9745–9755
Zhu Q, Yildirim E, Wang XZ et al (2020) Effect of substituents in sulfoxides on the enhancement of thermoelectric properties of PEDOT: PSS: experimental and modelling evidence. Mol Syst Des Eng 5(5):976–984
Skurkyte-Papieviene V, Abraitiene A, Sankauskaite A et al (2021) Enhancement of the thermal performance of the paraffin-based microcapsules intended for textile applications. Polymers 13(7):1120
Soo XYD, Png ZM, Wang XZ et al (2022) Rapid UV-curable form-stable polyethylene-glycol-based phase change material. ACS Appl Polym Mater 4(4):2747–2756
Soo XYD, Png ZM, Chua MH et al (2022) A highly flexible form-stable silicone-octadecane PCM composite for heat harvesting. Mater Today Adv 14:100227
Yang L, Jin X, Zhang Y et al (2021) Recent development on heat transfer and various applications of phase-change materials. J Clean Prod 287:124432
Png ZM, Soo XYD, Chua MH et al (2022) Triazine derivatives as organic phase change materials with inherently low flammability. J Mater Chem A 10(7):3633–3641
Png ZM, Soo XYD, Chua MH et al (2022) Strategies to reduce the flammability of organic phase change materials: a review. Sol Energy 231:115–128
Sharma A, Tyagi VV, Chen CR et al (2009) Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 13(2):318–345
Miandad R, Barakat MA, Rehan M et al (2017) Plastic waste to liquid oil through catalytic pyrolysis using natural and synthetic zeolite catalysts. Waste Manag 69:66–78
Muiruri JK, Yeo JCC, Zhu Q et al (2022) Poly(hydroxyalkanoates): production, applications and end-of-life strategies-life cycle assessment Nexus. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 10(11):3387–3406
Soo XYD, Wang SX, Yeo CCJ et al (2022) Polylactic acid face masks: are these the sustainable solutions in times of COVID-19 pandemic? Sci Total Environ 807:151084
Das P, Tiwari P (2018) The effect of slow pyrolysis on the conversion of packaging waste plastics (PE and PP) into fuel. Waste Manag 79:615–624
Li WC, Tse HF, Fok L (2016) Plastic waste in the marine environment: a review of sources, occurrence and effects. Sci Total Environ 566–567:333–349
Sun KL, Song Y, He FL et al (2021) A review of human and animals exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: health risk and adverse effects, photo-induced toxicity and regulating effect of microplastics. Sci Total Environ 773:145403
Valavanidis A, Iliopoulos N, Gotsis G et al (2008) Persistent free radicals, heavy metals and PAHs generated in particulate soot emissions and residue ash from controlled combustion of common types of plastic. J Hazard Mater 156(1–3):277–284
Ragaert K, Delva L, Geem KV (2017) Mechanical and chemical recycling of solid plastic waste. Waste Manag 69:24–58
Krutof A, Hawboldt KA (2018) Upgrading of biomass sourced pyrolysis oil review: Focus on co-pyrolysis and vapour upgrading during pyrolysis. Biomass Convers Biorefinery 8(3):775–787
Foong SY, Liew RK, Yang YF et al (2020) Valorization of biomass waste to engineered activated biochar by microwave pyrolysis: progress, challenges, and future directions. Chem Eng J 389:124401
Veksha A, Giannis A, Chang VWC (2017) Conversion of non-condensable pyrolysis gases from plastics into carbon nanomaterials: effects of feedstock and temperature. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 124:16–24
Salmasi SSZ, Abbas-Abadi MS, Haghighi MN et al (2015) The effect of different zeolite based catalysts on the pyrolysis of poly butadiene rubber. Fuel 160:544–548
Predel M, Kaminsky W (2000) Pyrolysis of mixed polyolefins in a fluidised-bed reactor and on a pyro-GC/MS to yield aliphatic waxes. Polym Degrad Stab 70(3):373–385
Ding HB, Hesp SAM (2021) Balancing the use of wax-based warm mix additives for improved asphalt compaction with long-term pavement performance. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 9(21):7298–7305
Oró E, de Gracia A, Castell A et al (2012) Review on phase change materials (PCMs) for cold thermal energy storage applications. Appl Energy 99:513–533
Kalnæs SE, Jelle BP (2015) Phase change materials and products for building applications: a state-of-the-art review and future research opportunities. Energy Build 94:150–176
Liu ZX, Yu Z, Yang TT et al (2018) A review on macro-encapsulated phase change material for building envelope applications. Build Environ 144:281–294
Zhang Y, Liu H, Niu JF et al (2020) Development of reversible and durable thermochromic phase-change microcapsules for real-time indication of thermal energy storage and management. Appl Energy 264:114729
Prieto C, Cabeza LF (2019) Thermal energy storage (TES) with phase change materials (PCM) in solar power plants (CSP). Concept and plant performance. Appl Energy 254:113646
Kassargy C, Awad S, Burnens G et al (2017) Experimental study of catalytic pyrolysis of polyethylene and polypropylene over USY zeolite and separation to gasoline and diesel-like fuels. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 127:31–37
Saeaung K, Phusunti N, Phetwarotai W et al (2021) Catalytic pyrolysis of petroleum-based and biodegradable plastic waste to obtain high-value chemicals. Waste Manag 127:101–111
Arabiourrutia M, Elordi G, Lopez G et al (2012) Characterization of the waxes obtained by the pyrolysis of polyolefin plastics in a conical spouted bed reactor. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 94:230–237
Hameed MS, Jamil FA, Stephan FA (1994) Thermal stability of glass-filled polyethylenes. Thermochim Acta 246(1):167–174
Mengeloglu F, Karakus K (2008) Thermal degradation, mechanical properties and morphology of wheat straw flour filled recycled thermoplastic composites. Sensors (Basel) 8(1):500–519
Siddique S, Smith GD, Yates K et al (2019) Structural and thermal degradation behaviour of reclaimed clay nano-reinforced low-density polyethylene nanocomposites. J Polym Res 26(6):1–14
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge financial support from Individual Research Grant (Grant reference No.: A20E7c0109) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research of Singapore (A*STAR).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Ong, P.J., Heng, Z.X.J., Xing, Z. et al. Wax from Pyrolysis of Waste Plastics as a Potential Source of Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage. Trans. Tianjin Univ. 29, 225–234 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12209-022-00346-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12209-022-00346-7