Process for the preparation of a c20 to c60 wax from the selective thermal decomposition of plastic polyolefin polymer

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a C20 to C60 wax from the thermal decomposition of plastic polymer, in particular a vacuum pyrolysis process for preparing a C20 to C60 wax from the thermal decomposition of plastic polyolefin polymer, the method comprising the steps of: i) introducing plastic polyolefin polymer, e.g. from an extruder, into a thermal reaction zone of a vacuum pyrolysis reactor; ii) heating the plastic polyolefin polymer at sub-atmospheric pressure, wherein the temperature in the thermal reaction zone of the reactor is from 500 °C to 750 °C, to induce thermal decomposition of the plastic polyolefin polymer and to form a thermal decomposition product effluent which comprises a major portion by weight of a C20 to C60 wax fraction; and iii) condensing a vapour component of the thermal decomposition product effluent from the vacuum pyrolysis reactor in a multistage condensation comprising a plurality of condensation stages connected in series.