All around the globe companies and individuals are starting to produce fuel from waste plastic. As only 8% of waste plastic is recycled in the U.S., 15% in Western Europe, and much less in developing countries, this reuse of plastic could potentially keep enormous amounts of plastic out of landfills and out of the oceans.
Why Plastic Waste Is A Problem
Over 500 billion pounds of new plastic is manufactured each year and roughly 33% of that is single use and thrown away. As so little plastic is recycled, we need to reframe plastic waste as an underused resource vs. one that’s destined for the landfill.
If all plastic waste made it into the landfill, it would surely be mined in the future, but currently all plastic waste does not make it into our landfills. The United Nations estimates plastic accounts for four-fifths of the accumulated garbage in the world’s oceans. We need to stop polluting our oceans with plastic before it is too late, and start collecting all plastics suitable for this new, fairly simple, technology, a technology that is available now.
Image via: coastalcare.org
How Plastic Waste Is Turned Into Fuel
The technology is not overly complicated. plastics are shredded and then heated in an oxygen-free chamber (known as pyrolysis) to about 400 degrees celsius. As the plastics boil, gas is separated out and often reused to fuel the machine itself.
Related Post: Biofuel
The fuel is then distilled and filtered. Because the entire process takes place inside a vacuum and the plastic is melted – not burned, minimal to no resultant toxins are released into the air, as all the gases and or sludge are reused to fuel the machine.
What Plastic Can Be Used?
For this technology, the type of plastic you convert to fuel is important. If you burn pure hydrocarbons, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), you will produce a fuel that burns fairly clean. But burn PVC, and large amounts of chlorine will corrode the reactor and pollute the environment.
Burning PETE releases oxygen into the oxygen deprived chamber thereby slowing the processing, and PETE recycles efficiently at recycling centers, so it is best to recycle PETE traditionally. HDPE (jugs) and LDPE (bags and films) are basically polyethylene so usable as fuel as well, just slightly more polluting as a thicker heavier fuel is created. But additional processing can turn even HDPE into a clean diesel.
“Polyethylene and polypropylene are pure hydrocarbons, only they are arranged in long chains. If you chop those chains into shorter ones, you get oil, if you chop them even shorter, you get diesel, and if you chop them again, you get gasoline and eventually burnable gas.” www.energeticforum.com
How To Help? Buy A Reusable Water Bottle
The best thing, of course, would be to stop using plastic water bottles completely. We recommend these eco-friendly, reusable water bottles.
- Hydro Flask Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
- Stanley Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle
- Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle
Machines That Turn Plastic To Fuel
In Niagara Falls, NY, John Bordynuik’s ‘Plastic Eating Monster‘ can even vaporize thick HDPE plastic into a cleaner burning number 2 fuel. Put plastic in one end of the machine and out the other end comes diesel, petroleum distillate, light naphtha and gases such as methane, ethane, butane and propane.
The machine accepts unwashed, unsorted waste plastics, composites and commingled materials and returns about 1 gallon of fuel from 8.3 pounds of plastic. And the processor uses its own off-gases as fuel, therefore using minimal energy to run the machine. John has two massive steel processors up and running, with financing secured for three more to be built in the very near future.
In the Philippines, Poly-Green Technology and Resources Inc. was started by Jayme Navarro whose sister asked him to come up with a way to recycle plastic bags. A plant is being built that will produce 5,000 kilos of fuel per day. www.polygreen.com.ph
Related Post: In a Plastic World, Recycling Ain’t What It Used to Be
Plastic to Fuel Power Plants
Cynar in the UK likes to call their product ‘End of Life Plastic to Diesel’ or ELPD. Their technology converts mixed Waste Plastics into synthetic fuels that are cleaner, low in sulphur and in the case of the diesel, a higher cetane than generic diesel fuel.
They have two plants running in Spain. Each Cynar plant can process up to 20 tons of End of Life Plastic per day, producing 5,000 gallons (19,000 litres) of high quality liquid fuels at a conversion rate of 95%.
Cynar will be supplying Jeremy Rowsell, a British insurance industry executive who lives in Australia, with all the plastic waste fuel he needs to fly a single-engine Cessna from Sydney to London this winter. Fuel will be in place at about 10 locations along the 10,500-mile route. The solo journey dubbed ‘On Wings of Waste‘ is intended to heighten awareness of this new fuel.
The Future of Plastic to Fuel
Of course, it would be the best if there were widespread environmentally friendly plastics in use, but in the meantime, recycling existing plastics into fuel would keep the plastics out of our waterways. This process is also excellent for difficult to recycle PP and PE plastics like bottle caps, appliance plastics, nursery planters and dirty plastics such as meat wrappings. This process is not suitable for PVC or polystyrene (styrofoam). This technology could also reduce carting issues, as companies that deal with plastic waste could build mini-burners on location. I am ready for a plastic collection can on my corner, how about you?
A Cynar video can be found here: cynarplc.com
Many questions as to which technology is the most efficient and least polluting…
Plastic to Fuel Companies
Japan. Sells International: e-n-ergy.com
UK: Cynar produces a synthetic fuel suitable for all internal combustion engines: cynarplc.com
Atalanta, GA: Nexus Fuels
Washington, DC: envion.com. Boasts easy installation, high efficiency, no second-time pollution. Plant converts 6,000 tons of plastic into nearly a million barrels yearly.
Circle Pines, MN and International: polymerenergy.com
They have a modular unit that produces 775 liters of fuel for every ton of plastic waste processed. System capacity is rated at 185 tons per month.
New York/Canada: JBI, Inc. plastic2oil.com
20-ton processor, 4,000 lbs. of plastic feedstock per machine per hour.
Phillipines: polygreen.com.
5,000 kilos of fuel per day.
Hong Kong: Ecotech Recycling Social Enterprise. Prototype machine can process three tons of plastic waste into 1,000 liters of fuel oil per day.
Las Vegas, NV: general@quadraprojects.net
Plastic to Fuel Resources
UNEP Policy Brief on Plastic Waste: unep.org
Northeastern University turns plastic waste into energy to drive generators: phys.org
DIY for under $800.: energeticforum.com
Peswiki Plastic and Energy page: peswiki.com
This homemade device converts around 25 kg of shredded plastic into 24 litres of diesel in 4 hours. emuprim.lv
It is amazing to hear that technologies are now using the technique of converting plastics into diesel that can be useful for us and can be the source of income from a cheap capital. Plastics can be found everywhere and also can cause pollution by these projects it can be lessen and turning it to be useful one..
Dear Sir,
I am Dr Sabah Mohammed, one of the representatives of the Emir of Qatar for the provision of Loan Funding for the development of Environmental Solutions Projects (EFP)The Emir of Qatar Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani who has been enormously passionate about a Safe, Clean and friendly Environment has been greatly concerned about the continuous environmental pollution and threatening and unsafe conditions caused majorly by inappropriate ways of managing wastes and dangers caused by wearing down of the land by erosive action of water, wind, ice etc around the world. Therefore, he has set up a Clean and Safe Environment Initiative which is now set for diversification. We deeply engage in funding Recycling of Wastes, and Erosion Control Projects and Renewable Energy Projects.
To achieve the aims and aspirations of this Initiative, the Emir has fashioned out a loan funding program for the development of waste recycle and management projects and general environmental protection projects.
The Emir has given the program a capital reinforcement with an initial $5Billion USD funding to be given out as loans purely for the development environmental friendly related Projects focusing mainly on Waste Management around the world. The Emir wants an environmentally clean and safe world as they converge in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA world cup which will be hosted by Qatar.
Therefore, if you are interested in benefiting from this loan funding program please reply immediately so that I can give you the full details of our loan funding procedures.
Kind Regards.
Dr. Sabah Mohammed
This subject powerpoint presentation give me i saw this ppt in my seminar sub. If u have this sub ppt so please sir give me ppt send to my email adress.
Hi Sabah,
Please provide me further details for the same.
Hi Dr Sabah,
I have done research and Project on the management of waste Plastics by converting them into Useful fuels ( Fuel oil) and by further distillation of this fuel oil, we can get Petrol and Diesel fractions.
Can i do something for your country.
thanks and best Regards.
Hi, My Dear Friends I I’m studying on gasoline and diesel fuel from waste plastic, I want to a simple design or plan with the capability to do the same . please guide me. hossein_arasur@yahoo.com
Hi Subah,
Looking forward for your reply and project details.
Please as provide me the details- shekharchavan2244@yahoo.com
I am very interested in turning plastic waste into diesel
please could you assist me
I am from south Africa
Hello, I am a student of Brazilian biofuels. Please, I would like to receive more information on the project of making fuel from waste plastics.
Hi Dr Sabah,
Please provide me further details for the same.
Dear Sir,
I would much appreciate if i could get an appointment with you as i would like to discuss my project of plastic waste recycled in the field of constuction.
You can contact me on 00974 – 33093119
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
AZRA
sir we are already involve in waste tyre recycling plant and we are further looking to set up the plant in which waste plastic can be converted in to oil . so i request you to send me the technical specification and price of your equipment.we are waiting for your reply .
thanking you ,
with warm regards,
atul agrawal
What about converting a large oil tanker to process in to fuel the large masses of plastic floating in the oceans.
As to a comment below from a representative for the Emir of Qatar…please take note that the IP address that the mail was sent from is in Nigeria… and after a bit of research, I do not find any reference anywhere to an Environmental Solutions Project in Qatar. If you wish to investigate further to test if this is a valid claim (I am 100% suspicious) write to the Emir himself – https://www.diwan.gov.qa/english/diwan/diwan_email.asp
dear sir,
as we have gone through your project for waste plastic recycle plant and we are interested in setting up of the plant in Gwalior, so for this we requires a detail project report with the price quotation and specification of the plant and also the project feasibility with govt. clauses.
so kindly provide us the details.
with regards
ankur jain
+919827017152
Dear sir;
I am an Ethiopia who is a plastic technologist and working for the last 30 years from big nation company to small scale individual plastic business enterprise.
currently, I am working as executive secretary of Ethiopia Plastic and Rubber Product Manufacturing Association. there more than 600 plastic and rubber factories registered and working in the sector. can you imagine if all these factories are working by full capacity and how this pollute the city of Addis Ababa. please, taking this for your consumption would you please give me any further information like my friends ask below you about the feasibility and equipment design? if not price of your machine?
Thank you inadvance
would you be able to install and run a large machine on a ship? and gather up all the waste plastic floating in the ocean, use the fuel for the ship?
how you can help me to have this project in Egypt
HI
I AM A RECYCLER IN SOUTH AFRICA AND WILL BE KEEN TO GET MORE INFO. ON THE START UP PROJECT AND THEN INTO A FULL LINE CONVERTING LASTIC TO FUEL.
KINDLY CONTACT
SUNIL SINGH
Hello, sir!
We, a group of students, are willing to write a business plan related to ‘Producing diesel from recycling plastic’. Due to we are from developing country, this project really suits our country situation in terms of improving environment, and creativity. We really eager to achieve this project. So, could you please give us more details related to its process and required technology? We really appreciate if you can help us with this. Here is my email address: noungsamboth@gmail.com
Regards,
Samboth
i have developed a process that converts plastic wastes into diesel,gasolin and lpg but i have lacked equipment and funding please assist..my email is mweresai@gmail am from a developing country, kenya.thanks
I AM A RECYCLER IN LONDON AND WILL BE KEEN TO GET MORE INFO THEN OPEN MY OWN BUSINESS IN AFRICA. ON THE START UP PROJECT AND THEN INTO A FULL LINE CONVERTING PLASTIC TO OIL PROCESS. HOW CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS PROJECT IN AFRICA (REP OF BENIN). PRICE OF BASIC MACHINE PLEASE.MY CONTACT DETAILS: 00447961768731 OR BY EMAIL: TETEAGBODJAN@YAHOO.CO.UK
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU .
Dear All,
I am in the process of putting up new pyrolysis plant. Need some guidelines whether to go for tyre pyrolysis or plastic.
Thanks & Regards
Milind Bote
Dear sir,
We are holding ABS and PC scrap regrind for burning purpose in bulk quantity.
Thanking you,
Vasim.
Am currently writing a project on conversion of plastic waste into fuels,.I need your assistance in the objectives and the best experimental methodology i will use to make my project familiar to others
Am currently writing a project on conversion of plastic waste into fuels,.I need your assistance in the objectives and the best experimental methodology i will use to make my project familiar to others..
AM Henry from Kenya,.I will apprechiate to here from you.It is a research based project,
Good Day,
Please provide more details.
TQ
Rgds
Alex
Hi All,
Please understand that this is simply a blog post on plastic waste fuel. I am by no means an expert on the subject. If you desire to communicate with experts please write to the companies listed. Best!
what will be the approx. cost for 10 tones plant
I’m interest in this field. Please give me further information about ‘process of plastic fuel’. Thank you..
iam interested in this process, please inform more details about this field…..
sreejithnairks@gmail.com
iam interested in this process, please inform more details about this field…..
sreejithnairks@gmail.com
It was great to know about the project , we are already into petroleum sector . Would be interested in knowing more about the process.
I was just wondering if the amount energy used to convert plastic into diesel is really worth it, what if the amount of energy used is much more than the amount of energy produced?
dear sir,
am a final year student want to do projects on plastic wastes to diesel. please guide me
thanking you
hi frndz…,
Is any one having any info. regarding this please contact me my id s.. aseem7mech@gmail.com
I am a plastic technologist in Ethiopia. I am working in various plastic industries for more than 30 years. still I am working in one of my partner factory.
Currently I am strongly working on plastic recycling to protect the environment and recycling plastic to fuel. I am happy when I found your research and equipment on this issues. would you please advice me what to do and how do I get your machinery?
Find this concept of concerting Plastic to Oil very interesting and would like to know everything there is to know, about it, so we can put up my units here in my country INDIA.
This seems to be a solution for a lot of problems. is it possible to get operational and financial details of the same
sir, i am a environmental student. i have interest on this topic, so kindly provide me the details on this.
dear sir ho can we get equipments to make fuel from plastic waste
i m very much interested in the great idea about to effective use of waste, i want to know how this technically work for that i m wait for your kind cooperation.
we are interested in this plant so please send ditel of this machine for prise & capecity per day
advantages of plastic fuels
good,
this is really a good process.i want details about this project.
kindly send m the technical details about the project.
please I want you to help me make the machine and burn plastic to oil. thank you.
Hi, I have done my internship in a similar company like this, Ventana Cleantech. I have worked for 2 months on topics like blending, sorting of polymer, lab scale conversion of plastic to gasoline and diesel. Tested various properties of fuel.
So, if there is any opening please do let me know on my email: garimasharma2222@gmail.com
The process of converting waste plastic in fuel involves extensive energy to crack the molecules of polymers into light hydrocarbons. Small plants and batch processes (like 25kg/4hr and all) can convert the plastic into fuel but are not at all energy efficient because in this kind of plants the energy input are always higher than output fuel energy. Every business depends on economics, feasibility and profit. So if anyone claims to give you a samll device / machine to convert waste plastic into fuel, be aware because In this process we need to perform the thermal pyrolysis of plastic which is done at 400 – 485 Deg C temperature which requires hell lot of energy. Proper engineering and process design can lead this business into good profitability and make it feasible. If any one is really interested in this business I can work for you as a consultant. I am just an engineer with 2 years of experience but out of this two years I worked in Plastic to Fuel conversion plant for more than 1 year.
I can be reached through my E-mail :
dheerajtripathi8990@gmail.com
In our company , we can produce 1 ton oil per hour which mean 20 tons of wasted plastic no matter what type of composition of plastic ( include PVC) can be turned into 15 tons oil (around75%) in one day . Without any pollution , completely automatic , fewer technicians less 5 members can run the operation . The pyrolysis plant can be designed under 40 by 40 sqaure meter area to operate . We wound like to develop globe business and whish joint venture . MY email:chihjen0705@gmail.com
is there any such machine installed in india near mumbai or is there any your sales & service centre in india for guidance maintainance & installation of such machine. what will be the financial aspect of your machine if installed in INDIA/ MUMBAI for 5TPD machine
S.N.BHATIA.