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Assessment of converting waste plastic label and aluminum foil package to fuel via thermal treatment technology

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This study used fast pyrolysis in bubbling fluidized bed(BFB) to process waste plastic labels and aluminum foil packages. In the previous stage, the suitable waste plastic label and the waste aluminum foil package were selected and granulated to make densified Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF-5) and the properties were analyzed. Proximate analysis was conducted to analyze the composition of the combustible, ash and moisture portion, while elemental analysis was used to determine the main components of the feedstock. The results showed that PET was the main component of the waste plastic labels as long as PE was the major component in the waste aluminum foil package. The Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed to find the proper pyrolysis temperature. The calorific value analysis was to determine whether this feed was suitable as an alternative subsidy fuel. The analysis results showed that both waste plastic label and aluminum foil package were with high calorific value around 6,690 and 7,895 kcal/kg respectively in dry basis and both were suitable for alternative fuel. The waste plastic label had been tested for 7 times on the 20 kg/hr plateform, and the results showed the oil production was low and equipment was clogged. It was speculated that the main component of pyrolysis product of PET woud be benzoic acid crystals, and the molecule structure of benzoic acid was just like tar, which causes equipment blockage. Therefore, the waste plastic label was not suitable as the pyrolysis system feedstock. The waste aluminium foil had been tested for 2 times on the 200 kg/hr plateform, and the pyrolysis oil yield of these two was around 54 wt.%. The pyrolysis oil was also tested via a boiler, co-firing with diesel. The results showed that the pyrolysis oil has a calorific value of 9,800 kcal/kg and comparable to the diesel fuel. The flue gas composition after combustion was also similar to that of diesel fuel, and could meet the environmental regulations. The economic feasibility assessment of the pyrolysis system showed that the process is economically feasibile with the incentive subsidy 1.8 NTD/kg under the pulp yield is 75% and price is 9,000 NTD/ton.
Keyword
Wasted plastic label, Waste aluminum foil package, Pyrolysis, Economic Evaluation
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