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6 Waste Plastics Management and Conversion into Liquid …
Plastics are synthetic organic materials that are made of petrochemical hydrocarbons and include additives such as flame retardants, stabilizer and anti-oxidants [1].
Plastics play an important role in delivering a more sustainable future. They have a
unique combination of characteristics such as being lightweight, durable and multifunctional that make them a great alternative to traditional materials such as steel
and wood [2, 3]. However, disposal of certain types of plastics waste, especially
packaging waste, has become one of the main challenges of the world. Over the
past 20 years, the global generation of plastics has doubled and reached around 335
million tonnes and it is expected to increase to more than 600 million tonnes by the
year 2030 [4]. China is the largest producer of plastics followed by Europe and North
America. More than 50% of the plastics are produced in Asia, of which, 29.4% are
produced in China, 3.9% in Japan, and 16.8% in the rest of Asia. Europe produces
18.5% of the plastics, followed by NAFTA with 17.7%, Middle East and Africa with
7.1%, Latin America with 4% and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
with 2.6% of the total world production [2, 4].
More than half of the produced plastics are for single-use applications and are
dumped after the first usage [4]. Plastic wastes are poorly managed as usual practices
of plastics disposal include open dumping or landfills, open burning and disposal in
water. Plastic products require hundreds to thousands of years to degrade in nature
and they impose a negative impact on the environment and human/wildlife health. As
such, plastics recycling and conversion of waste plastics and resins into valuable products would yield both economic and environmental dividends. This chapter provides
an overview of plastics components, waste plastics management and conversion
into liquid fuels and carbon materials. Industrial applications of plastics conversion
technologies and their economic/environmental benefits are also discussed.
6.1 Plastics Components
The main ingredients of plastics are synthetic resins, accounting for more than 30–
60% of their composition. Plastics often contain other additives such as flame retardants, anti-oxidants, stabilizer, lubricant, pigment, etc. [3]. In plastic and rubber
industries, resins are introduced into plastic products via various methods including
injection molding (the most popular one), thermoforming, compression, extrusion, blow molding, etc. The main properties of plastic products depend on the
characteristics of the synthetic resin constituents [3].
6.1.1 Synthetic Resins
Resins are solid or semi-solid amorphous compounds that have a plant or synthetic
origin. Synthetic resins are artificially produced resins made of various polymers.
Based on their synthesis methods, resins can be categorized into polyaddition or
6 Waste Plastics Management and Conversion into Liquid …
Plastics are synthetic organic materials that are made of petrochemical hydrocarbons and include additives such as flame retardants, stabilizer and anti-oxidants [1].
Plastics play an important role in delivering a more sustainable future. They have a
unique combination of characteristics such as being lightweight, durable and multifunctional that make them a great alternative to traditional materials such as steel
and wood [2, 3]. However, disposal of certain types of plastics waste, especially
packaging waste, has become one of the main challenges of the world. Over the
past 20 years, the global generation of plastics has doubled and reached around 335
million tonnes and it is expected to increase to more than 600 million tonnes by the
year 2030 [4]. China is the largest producer of plastics followed by Europe and North
America. More than 50% of the plastics are produced in Asia, of which, 29.4% are
produced in China, 3.9% in Japan, and 16.8% in the rest of Asia. Europe produces
18.5% of the plastics, followed by NAFTA with 17.7%, Middle East and Africa with
7.1%, Latin America with 4% and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
with 2.6% of the total world production [2, 4].
More than half of the produced plastics are for single-use applications and are
dumped after the first usage [4]. Plastic wastes are poorly managed as usual practices
of plastics disposal include open dumping or landfills, open burning and disposal in
water. Plastic products require hundreds to thousands of years to degrade in nature
and they impose a negative impact on the environment and human/wildlife health. As
such, plastics recycling and conversion of waste plastics and resins into valuable products would yield both economic and environmental dividends. This chapter provides
an overview of plastics components, waste plastics management and conversion
into liquid fuels and carbon materials. Industrial applications of plastics conversion
technologies and their economic/environmental benefits are also discussed.
6.1 Plastics Components
The main ingredients of plastics are synthetic resins, accounting for more than 30–
60% of their composition. Plastics often contain other additives such as flame retardants, anti-oxidants, stabilizer, lubricant, pigment, etc. [3]. In plastic and rubber
industries, resins are introduced into plastic products via various methods including
injection molding (the most popular one), thermoforming, compression, extrusion, blow molding, etc. The main properties of plastic products depend on the
characteristics of the synthetic resin constituents [3].
6.1.1 Synthetic Resins
Resins are solid or semi-solid amorphous compounds that have a plant or synthetic
origin. Synthetic resins are artificially produced resins made of various polymers.
Based on their synthesis methods, resins can be categorized into polyaddition or