Thermolytic Processes

  • M. Xanthos
  • J. Leidner
Chapter
Part of the NATO ASI Series book series (NSSE, volume 351)

Abstract

Thermolysis as applied to plastics wastes includes refinery and pyrolytic processes that produce monomers, fuels or gases. Thermolysis is not combustion but involves rather a complex set of reactions that depends both on the plastics involved and the precise nature of the thermolytic process used. Important classes of thermolytic processes include high temperature pyrolysis to monomers, lower temperature refinery processes to produce naphtha-like materials and thermal oxidation /gasification. Such processes are, in principle, applicable to certain single contaminated plastics or mixtures with high selectivity to monomers, or certain significantly contaminated commingled waste streams. Following a presentation of fundamentals on polymer thermal degradation and pyrolysis, this section examines existing and developmental technologies in high and low temperature pyrolysis, refinery processes (steam cracking, coking, hydrocracking, catalytic cracking) and gasification/thermal oxidation. Details on selected processes are provided.

Keywords

Temperature Pyrolysis Pyrolytic Process High Temperature Pyrolysis Automotive Shredder Residue Refinery Process 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 1998

Authors and Affiliations

  • M. Xanthos
    • 1
    • 2
  • J. Leidner
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental ScienceNew Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewarkUSA
  2. 2.Castle PointPolymer Processing InstituteHobokenUSA
  3. 3.ORTECH Corp.MississaugaCanada

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