Method for transforming solid plastic waste into hydrocarbons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for converting polymeric material waste into valuable products like fuels and hydrocarbons are inefficient, requiring complex processes, high energy consumption, and produce low yields with the need for extensive purification, and often result in environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
A method that transforms solid plastic waste into linear, ramified, and cyclic hydrocarbons using activated graphene nanomaterial at low temperatures in a cascade reaction system, without the need for pre-treatment or separation, and generates hydrocarbons suitable for fuel blending or polymer production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If thermal or thermocatalytic destruction methods are used to convert polymeric material waste into fuels and hydrocarbons, then valuable products can be obtained, but the process requires high energy consumption and produces low yields
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter from conventional high temperatures (450-480°C) to low temperatures (50-400°C), and modifies the chemical environment by introducing activated graphene nanomaterial, thereby achieving efficient hydrocarbon conversion with reduced energy input
Solution Approach 2:
Activated graphene nanomaterial is introduced as an intermediary substance that facilitates the conversion of polymeric waste to hydrocarbons at low temperatures, acting as a catalyst or mediator that enables the reaction to proceed efficiently without requiring high energy input
2Productivity
If conventional thermal destruction methods are used, then polymeric material waste can be converted, but complex processes with numerous reaction steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple conventional reaction steps into a single integrated process by using activated graphene nanomaterial to facilitate direct conversion of polymeric waste to hydrocarbons in one step, eliminating the need for sequential reactors and multiple processing stages
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate steps, purification stages, and separation processes from the conventional multi-step thermal destruction pathway, retaining only the essential conversion step that produces usable hydrocarbons directly
3Quantity of substance
If polymeric material waste is processed through conventional methods, then some products are obtained, but extensive purification and further processing are required
Solution Approach 1:
The activated graphene nanomaterial is prepared in advance with specific activation treatments that enable it to catalyze the conversion reaction directly, producing hydrocarbons that are already in a usable form without requiring subsequent purification or further chemical processing
4Productivity
If high temperatures are used for thermal destruction, then conversion reaction proceeds, but high energy costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The invention fundamentally changes the temperature parameter from high (450-480°C) to low (50-400°C), and compensates for the reduced thermal energy by introducing activated graphene nanomaterial that provides alternative reaction pathways with lower activation energy requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves high recovery yields of hydrocarbons with reduced energy costs and no carbon footprint, producing hydrocarbons suitable for fuel blending and polymer production in a single step, overcoming the inefficiencies of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
adding an activated graphene nanomaterial in an amount of between 0.001-1 wt. % with regard to the amount of solid plastic waste
Implementation Method 2
heating the receptacle to a temperature from 50 to 400° C., thereby generating gases
Implementation Method 3
heating the receptacle to a temperature from 50 to 400° C., thereby generating gases
Implementation Method 4
refrigerating the gases through a gas refrigerating unit, until condensation of at least a fraction thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transforming solid plastic waste into hydrocarbons, including linear, ramified and/or cyclic saturated and/or unsaturated hydrocarbons, which may be used, e.g., as feedstock to manufacture polymers, as feedstock to blend in fuels and/or as drop-in quality fuels includes the following steps: introducing the plastic waste in a receptacle provided with an outlet, a heat source, and a condenser; adding an activated graphene nanomaterial to the receptacle; heating receptacle; collecting the generated gases through the outlet; and refrigerating the gases through a gas refrigerating unit until condensation of at least a fraction thereof.