Riciclo chimico di materiali plastici di rifiuto

Plastic waste management represents one of the major environmental challenges, making the development of alternative treatments to conventional disposal techniques necessary. Among thermochemical processes, pyrolysis emerges as a promising option, exploiting high temperatures under inert conditions to convert plastic waste into value-added co-products. This doctoral thesis develops, through experimental investigation and process modelling, a two-stage pyrolysis process applied to industrial plastic wastes for the production of liquid and gaseous fuels that can be classified as Recycled Carbon Fuels (RCFs) according to the Renewable Energy Directive. The research was structured in three main phases. The experimental phase demonstrated the robustness of the process when applied to different heterogeneous wastes, producing fractions with high calorific value. The subsequent industrial-scale modelling highlighted how process configuration and solid fraction management significantly influence environmental and economic performance, enabling emission savings of up to 87%. Finally, the study of iron pre-impregnation showed the possibility of reducing char formation and valorising the solid residue. Overall, the results indicate pyrolysis as a sustainable solution for the production of RCFs from plastic waste.