Skip to main content
Log in

Effect of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on the pyrolysis of brominated flame retardant-containing high-impact polystyrene (HIPS-Br)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pyrolysis of brominated flame retardant-containing high-impact polystyrene (HIPS-Br) was performed at 430°C in the presence of 0.1 wt% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in a Pyrex glass reactor. Two different types of brominated flame retardants (decabromodiphenyl ether and decabromodiphenyl ethane) with or without antimony trioxide (as synergist) 5 wt% were used. The presence of PET had a significant effect on the material balance, decreasing the gaseous product and increasing the residue. The type of flame retardant had no effect on the yield of liquid product; however, the presence of Sb resulted in a marked difference in the distribution of decomposition products. Analysis by a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector showed that the hydrocarbons were distributed in the range n-C7 to n-C25 with major peaks at n-C9 and n-C17. The presence of PET increased the formation of brominated compounds by several times and affected both the type and quantity of polybrominated compounds. The liquid products obtained from the pyrolysis of HIPS-Br/PET have to be treated before they can be used

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kaminsky W, Hartmann F (2000) New pathways in plastic recycling and current status of plastics recycling. Angew Chem Int Ed 39: 331–333

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Innes J, Innes A (2001) Flame retardants: current trends in North America. Plast Addit Comp 3(4):22–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kellyn SB (2001) Mounting concern over brominated flame retardants. Environ Sci Technol 35(13):274A–275A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sato H, Kondo K, Tsuge S, Ohtani H, Sato N (1998) Mechanisms of thermal degradation of a polyester flame-retarded with antimony oxide/brominated polycarbonate studied by temperatureprogrammed analytical pyrolysis. Polym Degrad Stabil 62(1):41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kaufer H, von Quast O (1997) Recycling halogen-containing plastics. Kunststoffe 87(2):190

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bhaskar T, Kaneko J, Muto A, Sakata Y, Jakab E, Matsui T, Uddin MA (2004) Pyrolysis studies of PP/PE/PS/PVC/HIPS-Br plastics mixed with PET and dehalogenation (Br, Cl) of the liquid products. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 72:27–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bhaskar T, Kaneko J, Muto A, Sakata Y, Jakab E, Matsui T, Uddin MA (2004) Effect of poly(ethylene terephthalate) on the pyrolysis of brominated flame retardant containing high impact polystyrene and catalytic debromination of the liquid products. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 71:765–777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bhaskar T, Uddin MA, Murai K, Kaneko J, Hamano K, Kusaba T, Muto A, Sakata Y (2003) Comparison of thermal degradation products from real municipal waste plastic and model mixed plastics. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 70:579–587

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sakata Y, Uddin MA, Koizumi K, Murata K (1996) Thermal degradation of polyethylene mixed with poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(ethyleneterephthalate). Polym Degrad Stabil 53(1):111–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jakab E, Uddin MA, Bhaskar T, Sakata Y (2003) Thermal decomposition of flame-retarded high-impact polystyrene. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 68–69:83–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bhaskar T, Matsui T, Uddin MA, Kaneko J, Muto A, Sakata Y (2003) Effect of Sb2O3 in brominated heating impact polystyrene (HIPSBr) on thermal degradation and debromination by iron oxide carbon composite catalyst (Fe-C). App Catal B Env 43:229–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Murata K, Hirano Y, Sakata Y, Uddin MA (2002) Basic study on a continuous flow reactor for thermal degradation of polymers. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 65:71–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thallada Bhaskar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bhaskar, T., Mitan, N.M.M., Onwudili, J.A. et al. Effect of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on the pyrolysis of brominated flame retardant-containing high-impact polystyrene (HIPS-Br). J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 12, 332–340 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-010-0306-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-010-0306-9

Key words

Navigation