Recycling of polystyrene waste (thermocol) using pyrolysis with nano catalyst process into valuable product like fuel.

Abstract Marketed under the trade name Thermocol, expanded polystyrene (EPS) consists of 90–95% polystyrene and 5–10% gaseous blowing agent, such as carbon dioxide or pentane. This polymer is highly consumed because of its many applications across several industries, especially packaging. Owing to its large volume and lack of biodegradability, it makes up a significant portion of the waste stream from municipalities. Long-chain polymer molecules are broken down into small-chain molecules by the pyrolysis process, which requires heat energy. Smaller molecules can be produced by adjusting the reaction's pressure and heat flow. Converting waste plastic into fuel is the most environmentally beneficial way to safeguard the environment since it recovers the organic component of polymeric waste in the form of valuable petroleum products. A study was conducted on dolomite, which is commercially available, and two different nanocatalysts, CaO:MgO and ZnO:CaO:MgO, synthesized in the laboratory. The use of these synthesized nanocatalysts resulted in an increased yield of the oil product than dolomite is used as a catalyst in pyrolysis.