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A liter of gasoline can be obtained from a kilogram of old plastic sachets by applying a technology being developed by the specialists of the Mendeleyev Chemical Engineering University in Russia . The technology focuses on obtaining gasoline mainly from man-caused carbonic wastes � such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate wastes. It is only known that these are grinded wastes of a single production. The technology suggested by V.F. Shvets and his colleagues is based on catalytic thermal treatment of polymeric materials. Its basic stages are as follows:
First, the wastes should be grinded (it is not necessary to wash them) and melted down. Then they should be mixed with the catalyst powder and exposed to thermal destruction, (kept for some time in the reactor at a definite temperature and pressure)
The catalyst composition has not yet been discussed by the researchers in public press, even as it is being patented now. It is only known that they are grinded wastes of a single production and the liquid hydrocarbon fraction, which is practically gasoline, is topped and collected from the obtained mass. The authors suggest that gaseous decomposition products should be used as fuel: partly in the same production to ensure the required treatment process temperature, and the remainder � in any other process where fuel gases are needed.
The plant's working model, or more precisely � a prototype model, is installed in the laboratory. The plant allows to produce a liter of gasoline and a little fuel gas from a kilogram of PE garbage (the petrol fraction content in the products of treatment reaches 90%). The waste represents a table-spoon amount black viscous substance resembling tar, saturated by the catalyst powder, per liter of gasoline. In principle, this product can also be used or burned down � then catalyst can be returned into the process.
The researchers continue their work in several directions: on the one hand, the reactor for the industry should be large, so scaling is to be performed. Another approach is to strive to make the process continuous. |
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