Improving fuel quality from plastic bag waste pyrolysis by controlling condensation temperature

Plastic waste is a major problem in many areas around the world. The pyrolysis of plastic waste to produce fuel is another solution to this problem. But the fuel obtained from plastic waste was of low quality due to improper experimental factors. Therefore, the improvement of fuel quality in the production process is essential. This research has objective was to study the first condenser temperature in 5 levels: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 °C. The experimental conditions were pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C, hot filter temperature of 200 °C, second condenser temperature of -40 °C, 1 kg of plastic bag waste and the experimental period of 2 h. The results showed that the first condenser temperature of 30 °C yielded the highest first fuel yield of 70.7 wt%. When raising the temperature to 40 °C, the second fuel yield was up to 7.3 wt%. The results of the fuel properties analysis revealed that the first fuel had a high heating value (HHV) of 42.4 MJ/kg. There is a chemical composition of substances in the diesel fuel group mostly. But the first condenser temperature increased from 10 to 50 °C, causing a decrease in calorific value and density. This is a result of chemical compositions where many macromolecules are condensed in the fuel. For the analysis of the second fuel, it was found that the HHV was 38.1 MJ/kg, which was 4.3 MJ/kg lower than the HHV of the first fuel. However, the calorific value and density of the second fuel increases as the temperature of the first condenser increases. The chemical composition of the second fuels is Benzene, Toluene and Cyclononane as its main constituents, giving it a physical appearance like that of gasoline. But, in second fuels there is a chemical composition of Dicyclopentadiene. It has a clear yellow color and a pungent odor that annoys users. If in the future this substance can be eliminated, it will enable the production of fuel from plastic waste as a substitute for gasoline. •The maximum yield of fuel is 70.7 wt% and the maximum HHV is 42.4 MJ/kg.•The fuel obtained from the first condenser has a chemical composition like that of diesel fuel.•The fuel obtained from the second condenser has the same chemical composition as gasoline.•Increasing the first condenser temperature decreases the calorific value of the first fuel but increases for second fuel.