This study investigated the energy efficiency of syngas and aluminum recovery in gasification of tetrapak aseptic and non-recycled plastic containing aluminum by the updraft fixed-bed and bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) gasifiers. The continuous operation of the gasifiers with the different treatment capacity was also discussed. According to the results on energy yield efficiency and syngas heating value, increased gasification temperature can enhance the energy yield and syngas heating value. In the case of 900℃ and fluidized-bed gaifier (0.12 kg/hr), the maximum syngas heating value were 5.52 MJ/Nm3 and 5.87 MJ/Nm3 in gasification of the tetrapak aseptic and non-recycled plastic containing aluminum, respectively. As treatment capacity scaled up to 6 kg/hr, the average syngas heating value was approximately 3.66 MJ/Nm3. Based on the analysis results of cold gas efficiency(CGE), the maximum CGE gasified from tetrapak aseptic and non-recycled plastic containing aluminum were 24.7% and 36.0%, respectively. On the other hand, it can produce approximately 52 kg and 98 kg recovered aluminum by gasified per ton of tetrapak aseptic and non-recycled plastic containing aluminum, respectively. Meanwhile, the purities of recovered aluminum gasified from tetrapak aseptic and non-recycled plastic containing aluminum were 76%~94% and 76%~91%, respectively. According to the inventory and analysis results of carbon footprint by life cycle analysis(LCA), the estimated carbon dioxide emission is approximately 99 kg CO2e by gasified per ton of tetrapak aseptic and non-recycled plastic containing aluminum. Especially for the tested materials were shredded during pretreatment process, it required more energy input resulting in more carbon dioxide emissions. It was approximately 30% of total amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Based on the results of energy yield and syngas heating value, if the fluidized bed gasifier is a capable of 24 ton/day, it could produce the electricity of 6,720 kWhe. In summary, it can conclude that the gasification technology is a good potential for converting tetrapak aseptic and non-recycled plastic containing aluminum into energy (syngas) and resource (aluminum).

Tetrapak aseptic, non-recycled plastic, plastic bag containing aluminum, gasification