Investigation of calorific values and thermal degradation profiles of various plastic wastes
摘要
Plastics, a ubiquitous substance in our everyday existence in various forms and types, undergo prolonged deterioration under climatic conditions. The management of plastic waste is a significant problem we must face in this era and in the years to come. Recycling of plastic encompasses four distinct categories: primary (recycling to the same product), secondary (mixed colours or resins to a different product), tertiary (waste to chemicals), and quaternary (waste to energy). Converting waste to energy is the ultimate method among these, as it utilizes waste as a fuel source. A study of the plastics' kinetics is the need of the hour to achieve optimal degradation results for a variety of processes. Only six types of plastics are considered in this study, and all of them were collected in pelletized form from various sources; their specifications depend on the recycling industry equipment and processes. Various parameters of plastics, such as calorific value, thermal degradation profiles, and by-products, are found using Bomb Calorimetry, Thermogravimetry Analyser, and Infrared spectroscopy techniques, respectively. Compared to all tested types of plastics, only poly vinyl chloride gives a residue in calorific value analysis. Absorptance test using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy identifies them as compounds of chlorine and bromine. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted on these samples at various heating rates of 10, 20, 30, and 40°C min−1. The type of resin present in the polymer determines the mass profiles and other degradation parameters of plastic waste degradation.