The Indian plastic plague has forced the states to take drastic steps to eventually phase out the use of the substance all together. However, a new prototype of the pyrolysis plant developed by the Perinjanam panchayat could be the best solution to the problem!
This pollution-free technology can burn plastic waste and distill petrol among other by-products. The plant was designed by V. S. Sreejith, director of the science centre in Kodungallur, who has been working on solid waste management for several years now.
“Petroleum is converted to plastic products by heating it at a particular temperature. In the pyrolysis plant of the prototype which we have developed, a reversal of polymerization happens,” Sreejith said.
“The plant is at present burnt using LPG for display, but the bio-gas from organic waste will be used for the purpose when the civic body puts the technology to use to processing plastic. Out of 10 kg of plastic, 9 liters and 600 ml of petroleum can be extracted using this technology,” he added.
Sreejith says that the petroleum obtained from the plastic can be further distilled to obtain petrol and other by-products such as turpentine and wax. The distillation process works by burning plastic to generate gas. This gas contains long-chain hydrocarbons which are then condensed using water and converted into petroleum in liquid form.
A sample of the petrol has been sent to petrochemical companies for quality test.
“If the plastic waste is provided free of cost, the only expense will be for the labor. The civic body would soon obtain an NOC from the Pollution Control Board and start such plants at different areas in the panchayat,” said the Perinjanam panchayat president K. K. Sachith.
