Recycled waste plastics into alternative fuels

Researchers at Northeastern University in Boston, USA, announced recently that they can convert plastic waste into alternative fuels and have designed a facility to convert plastic waste into clean energy while minimizing harm Release of emissions.

The research team developed a waste burner that breaks down non-biodegradable plastics to form an alternative source of fuel. The results of this prototype facility were announced at the fifth annual meeting of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Conference in March 2010.

Self-sustainability is the key to the design of the double-tank burner in this system. Plastic waste is first treated by pyrolysis in the upper tank, and pyrolysis converts the solid plastic into gas. Then, the gas flows to the next tank, and in the next tank, the gas is burned with the oxidant to generate heat energy and steam. Heat energy supports the burner, and steam can be used to generate electricity.

The prototype facility can be scaled up to drive large power plants, and large power plants can be linked to plastic recycling centers to supply a stable source of fuel.

Allegedly, calculations show that with this new technology, in the United States alone, if all recycled plastics are processed, they can have the potential to replace 462 million gallons of oil. Fuels developed using this system can reduce the cost of future power generation.