Optimization of non-recyclable medical plastics using pyrolysis for high-yield biofuel production
摘要
Medical waste has significantly increased, leading to serious health and environmental issues such as disease spread and contamination of air, water, and soil. Among these wastes, latex gloves (LG) classified as thermosetting polymers are non-recyclable through conventional means, unlike thermoplastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and others. This study investigated the use of pyrolysis as an effective thermal conversion method to valorize LG waste into valuable products: pyrolysis oil, char, and gas. The process was carried out in a fixed batch reactor. The main objectives were to maximize the oil yield and to enhance the fraction of high-value compounds in the oil. The key process parameters like temperature, heating rate, retention time, and particle size were optimized. The characterization techniques used were CHNS elemental analysis for LG and char, FTIR spectroscopy for functional groups identification and GC–MS for pyrolysis oil composition. Under optimal conditions (300 °C, 12 °C.min−1 heating rate, 30 min retention time, 0.5–2 cm particle size), the process yielded 61 ± 1.5 mass% oil, 22.67 ± 1.5 mass% char, and 16.00 ± 1.5 mass% gas. The oil was found to contain 91.57% limonene – a valuable compound that can be used as a biofuel additive as well as in pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics. This work demonstrated a sustainable and economically feasible way for the management of non-recyclable medical waste, supporting circular economy initiatives through zero-waste conversion to high value products.