Friday, August 23, 2019

How do we get rid of plastic waste without that toxic taste? This engineer has the answer

IPOH, Malaysia August 22 — An environmental engineering expert has suggested that the government consider the “fast pyrolysis” technology as a disposal method for the country’s plastic waste.
Environmental engineer Frank Wilson, who has 40 years experience in water and waste treatment, said “fast pyrolysis” technology does not emit any hazardous toxins such as dioxin, which can be found in other technologies which involve incineration.
 “Unlike the technologies which involve incineration that requires oxygen to burn and produce dioxin, fast pyrolysis does not involve any burning as it is the process of heating organic matter in the absence of oxygen and making it decompose to produce flue gas, liquid oil, diesel and biochar (fertiliser),” he told Malay Mail.
 “Normal pyrolysis operates at 450 degrees Celsius, but fast pyrolysis operates at the temperature of 950 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, all organics vaporise and virtually no ash is formed.
 “The condensed gases include naphtha and high-quality diesel,” he added.
His comments follow an announcement by the government recently that they are looking at turning plastic trash in the country into alternative fuel and source for producing cement.
Wilson said that technology also produces less flue gas compared to direct combustion in the way of incineration.
He added that said once the pyrolysis process begins no external heating is required and the remaining gas can be used to produce electricity and sold to the grid.

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