Abstract
The effect of stabilizers on thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) was studied as part of a process assessment for high-PVC waste treatment. The BFB reactor operated at temperatures between 200 and 400°C and three types of PVC were used in the tests: a pure rigid bottle-grade containing some tin compounds stabilizer, an old, light grey sewage PVC pipe with lead compound stabilizer and a newer orange sewage PVC pipe with Ca/Zn compounds stabilizer. The pyrolysis gases from the BFB were analyzed with a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. The result from the tests and char analysis showed that the weight fraction and the type of stabilizer, especially lead compound, have a major effect by slowing PVC degradation especially at the first degradation stage compared to a purer PVC which contains only a small amount of tin based stabilizer. The results also showed that a temperature range 340-350°C, where most of the chlorine for all types used in the tests was released, is optimal for operating the BFB pyrolysis reactor.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 63-74 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis |
| Volume | 72 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2004 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Funding
Funding and support from the Finnish Technology Agency TEKES, Foster Wheeler Energia Oy, Finnish Plastics Industries Federation and Borealis Polymers Oy is acknowledged, as well as the support from Prof. Carl-Johan Fogelholm from Helsinki University of Technology.
Keywords
- Bubbling fluidized bed
- Poly(vinyl chloride)
- Pyrolysis
- Stabilizer