The latest technology today on composite recycling is the Fast Pyrolysis Process and it will be the focus of this section. The details of this process are obtained from Biomass Technology Group Inc. Please note that both biomass and composites utilize the same pyrolysis process.
What is Pyrolysis?
“Pyrolysis is the thermal degradation of the waste polymer component in the absence of oxygen. The polymer breaks down to produce an oil/wax a gas and a char product, leaving a solid friable residue. Pyrolysis has the advantage that potentially all of the products from the process can be used.”
– Azom.com
The Chemistry Behind The Process…
In the fast pyrolysis process, composite is rapidly heated to a temperature of 450 – 600 degrees Celsius. Under this high temperature, intense vibration takes place within the atomic structures of the composites thus causing the atoms to apart at random positions. As a result of the atom structure breakdown, yields in the form of solid residues, oil, wax, and gas is produced.
Technology Behind The Process…
One of today’s pyrolysis technologies is based on the rotating cone reactor. It is a proven gas-solid contactor that was developed at the University of Twente.
Composite particles at room temperature and hot sand are imputed together at the bottom of the rotating cone where the two are mixed and ascended upwards by the rotating action of the cone. By doing this, rapid heating and a short gas phase residence time is achieved.
Similar to fast heating of biomass, fast heating of composite will also prevent char forming reactions. As a result, 75 percent weight of oil and only 15 percent weight of char and gas are produced as primary products. At the same time, the rapid removal of the pyrolysis vapors from the hot reactor enclosure ensures that less than 10 percent weight of oil is lost due to the reactions.
[Courtesy of: Biomass Technology Group.]
Section I: Introduction
Section II: Present (YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN THIS SECTION)
Section III: Future
Complete Table of Contents
Reference