Differentiation of Waste Plastic Pyrolysis Fuels to Conventional Diesel Fuel
(1) Williamston High School, Williamston, Michigan
https://doi.org/10.59720/17-094![Cover photo for Differentiation of Waste Plastic Pyrolysis Fuels to Conventional Diesel Fuel](https://emerginginvestigators.org/rails/active_storage/representations/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBaGdCIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--fe5504f26796659ea68710638a0403550ff37ab4/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2QzNKbGMybDZaVWtpRFRZd01IZzJNREErQmpzR1ZBPT0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--a3b53ba1a0f83efef18f6e75a8d4ce784384bee2/pyrolysis.jpg)
Plastic pollution and energy shortages are pressing issues in today’s world. Waste plastic pyrolysis attempts to solve these problems by eliminating waste from the environment while creating a viable alternative fuel to replace conventional fuels. This research examined whether waste plastic pyrolysis fuels are similar to conventional diesel and, thus, a plausible alternative fuel. We created three distinct waste plastic pyrolysis fuels: high-density polyethylene, polypropylene/low-density polyethylene, and a mixed fuel. Four tests isolated specific characteristics of each fuel: efficiency, calorific value, burn time, and relative density. Results showed that waste plastic pyrolysis fuels were not comparable in performance to conventional diesel: diesel had the longest burn time, the highest calorific value, and the highest efficiency of all fuels tested. These results suggest that conventional diesel is a superior fuel compared to waste plastic pyrolysis fuels.