Effect of Reactor Temperature on the Characteristics of Alternative Fuel Produced from the Pyrolysis of Mixed Plastic Waste

Fadlur Rahman; Dori Yuvenda; Yolli Fernanda; Durain Parmanoan

doi:10.24036/invotek.v26i1.1388

Authors

Fadlur Rahman Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Air Tawar Padang, Padang, Indonesia-25131
Dori Yuvenda Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Air Tawar Padang, Padang, Indonesia-25131
Yolli Fernanda Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Air Tawar Padang, Padang, Indonesia-25131
Durain Parmanoan Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Air Tawar Padang, Padang, Indonesia-25131

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24036/invotek.v26i1.1388

Keywords:

Plastic Waste, Pyrolysis, Reactor Temperature, Density, Calorific Value

Abstract

Plastic waste is a type of waste that is difficult to decompose, and its quantity continues to increase, potentially causing environmental problems. One method that can be applied to reduce plastic waste is pyrolysis, a thermal decomposition process without oxygen that produces pyrolysis oil, which has the potential to be used as an alternative fuel. Reactor temperature is an important factor that influences the thermal decomposition process, thus affecting the characteristics of the resulting pyrolysis oil. This study aims to analyze the effect of reactor temperature on the characteristics of pyrolysis oil produced from mixed plastic waste. The study was conducted experimentally using 5 kg of mixed non-chlorinated plastic waste in each test, with reactor temperature variations of 300 °C, 320 °C, 340 °C, 360 °C, and 380 °C. Each temperature variation was tested once. The parameters analyzed included operating time, density, viscosity, and calorific value. The results showed that increasing the reactor temperature accelerated the operating time from 70 minutes at 300 °C to 50 minutes at 380 °C. The density of pyrolysis oil ranged from 745.18 to 785.15 kg/m³, with a viscosity of 4.793 to 5.891 cSt and a calorific value of 38.681 to 40.405 MJ/kg. At 380 °C, the highest calorific value of 40.405 MJ/kg was achieved, while the density and viscosity remained within ranges close to those of conventional fuels. Therefore, 380 °C exhibited the best pyrolysis oil characteristics among the temperature variations studied and has greater potential for development as an alternative fuel after further processing and purification.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Fajar Sumbar, “Padang Panjang produksi sampah 50,1 ton sehari,” Feb. 14, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.fajarsumbar.com

Antara Sumatera Barat, “Pj. Wako Sonny BP: Jangan sampai Padang Panjang terlambat dalam menangani sampah,” 2025.

T. Novia, “Pengolahan limbah sampah polyethylene terephthalate (PET) menjadi bahan bakar minyak dengan proses pirolisis,” Gravitasi: Jurnal Pendidikan Fisika dan Sains, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 33–41, 2021.

D. Iswadi, F. Nurisa, and E. Liastuti, “Pemanfaatan sampah plastik LDPE dan PET menjadi bahan bakar minyak dengan proses pirolisis,” 2024.

S. M. Al-Salem et al., “A review of plastic waste management and pyrolysis,” Journal of Environmental Management, 2017.

J. A. Riandis, A. R. Setyawati, and A. S. Sanjaya, “Pengolahan sampah plastik dengan metode pirolisis menjadi bahan bakar minyak,” Jurnal Chemurgy, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 8–14, 2021.

J. Wahyudi, H. T. Prayitno, and A. D. Astuti, “Pemanfaatan limbah plastik sebagai bahan baku pembuatan bahan bakar alternatif,” Jurnal Litbang: Media Informasi Penelitian, Pengembangan dan IPTEK, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 58–67, 2018.

S. D. A. Sharuddin, F. Abnisa, W. M. A. W. Daud, and M. K. Aroua, “A review on pyrolysis of plastic wastes,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 115, pp. 308–326, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.02.037.

P. T. Williams and E. Slaney, “Analysis of products from the pyrolysis and liquefaction of single plastics and waste plastic mixtures,” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 754–769, 2007.

R. Miandad et al., “Effect of plastic waste types on pyrolysis liquid oil,” Energy Conversion and Management, 2016.

S. D. A. Sharuddin et al., “Pyrolysis of plastic waste for liquid fuel production,” Energy Conversion and Management, 2018.

R. H. Perry and D. W. Green, Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook, 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.

S. Papari and K. Hawboldt, “A review on thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of plastic waste,” Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2018.

R. K. Singh et al., “Thermal pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste for fuel production,” Fuel, 2020.

P. T. Williams, “Pyrolysis of waste tyres: A review,” Waste Management, vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 1714–1728, 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2013.05.003.

M. S. Qureshi, A. Oasmaa, H. Pihkola, I. Deviatkin, A. Tenhunen, J. Mannila, H. Minkkinen, M. Pohjakallio, and J. Laine-Ylijoki, “Pyrolysis of plastic waste: Opportunities and challenges,” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 152, p. 104804, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2020.104804.

Y. A. Çengel and A. J. Ghajar, Heat and Mass Transfer: Fundamentals and Applications, 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.

R. Palos, A. Gutiérrez, F. J. Vela, J. A. Maña, I. Hita, A. Asueta, S. Arnaiz, J. M. Arandes, and J. Bilbao, “Assessing the potential of recycled plastic slow pyrolysis for the production of streams attractive for refineries,” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 142, p. 104668, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2019.104668.

K. B. Park and J. S. Kim, “Pyrolysis products from various types of plastics using TG-FTIR at different reaction temperatures,” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 171, p. 105983, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2023.105983.

J. M. Saad, P. T. Williams, Y. Zhang, D. Yao, H. Yang, and H. Zhou, “Comparison of waste plastics pyrolysis under nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres: A thermogravimetric and kinetic study,” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 156, p. 105135, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2021.105135.

S. S. Park, D. K. Seo, S. H. Lee, T. U. Yu, and J. Hwang, “Study on pyrolysis characteristics of refuse plastic fuel using lab-scale tube furnace and thermogravimetric analysis reactor,” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 97, pp. 29–38, 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2012.06.009.

J. A. Onwudili, N. Insura, and P. T. Williams, “Composition of products from the pyrolysis of polyethylene and polystyrene in a closed batch reactor: Effects of temperature and residence time,” Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 86, no. 2, pp. 293–303, 2009, doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2009.07.008.

ASTM International, ASTM D4052-22: Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2021.

ASTM International, ASTM D445-21e1: Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity). West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2021.

J. G. Speight, The Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum, 5th ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2014.

ASTM International, ASTM D240-22: Standard Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2022.

Pertamina Patra Niaga, Spesifikasi Diesel Fuel. Jakarta: PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, 2024.

J. B. Heywood, Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.