Thermal Pyrolysis of Polyethylene in Fluidized Beds: Review of the Influence of Process Parameters on Product Distribution

The present work is an attempt to compile and analyze the most recent literature pertaining to thermal pyrolysis of plastic waste using fluidized bed reactors. The review is short owing to the small number of work reported in the open literature in particular to the fluidized beds. Although works on pyrolysis are reported in fixed beds, autoclaves, and fluidized beds, vast majority of them address to the utilization of fluidized bed due to their advantages and large scale adaptability. The pyrolysis temperature and the residence time are reported to have major influence on the product distribution, with the increase in pyrolysis temperature favoring gas production, with significant reduction in the wax and oil. The pyrolysis gas generally contains H₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆ while liquid product comprises benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, light oil, heavy oil, and gasoline with the variations depending on process conditions. The effects of other process parameters, namely fuel feed rate, fuel composition, and fluidizing medium have been reviewed and presented.