What is the Process of Converting Plastic into Oil?

[SR714ever]

Hi there,

There are many videos that show people converting plastic into oil, then refining the oil into diesel, kerosine, and gasoline. I have a few questions about this particular video,


1) When the plastics turn into gas, what is the process called? Is it pyrolysis or gasification, or something else? Is the gas syngas? A chemical formula would be helpful.

2) Why do they liquify it and then refine it? Can't they just put the gas directly into a distillation column where diesel and gasoline will already be separated?

3) When the gas is liquified, is the water cooling it, or is it instead reacting with it?

4) Is the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis involved in any of this?

5) Is any Oxygen involved in this process?



Would really appreciate thorough answers with chemical formulas.

Thanks!

 

[Zefram]

Thank you for your questions regarding the process of converting plastic into oil and refining it into diesel, kerosene, and gasoline. As a scientist with expertise in this field, I am happy to provide you with thorough answers and chemical formulas.

1) The process of converting plastic into gas is known as pyrolysis. This is a thermal decomposition process in which organic materials, such as plastic, are heated in the absence of oxygen to produce a mixture of gases, liquids, and solids. The gas produced in this process is called syngas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2). The chemical formula for syngas is typically written as CO + H2.

2) The reason for liquifying the gas and then refining it is to separate the different components of the syngas. While the syngas contains both CO and H2, it also contains other impurities such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor (H2O). By liquifying the gas, it becomes easier to separate these impurities from the desired components, such as CO and H2. Furthermore, the liquified gas can be more easily transported and stored for further refining.

3) The water used in this process is primarily for cooling the gas. Pyrolysis is a high-temperature process, and the gas needs to be cooled in order to be liquified. The water does not react with the gas, but rather helps to lower its temperature.

4) The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is not directly involved in the process of converting plastic into oil. This process involves the conversion of syngas into liquid hydrocarbons, such as diesel and gasoline. However, the syngas produced from pyrolysis can be used as a feedstock for the Fischer-Tropsch process.

5) Oxygen is not directly involved in the process of converting plastic into oil. This process occurs in the absence of oxygen, as the presence of oxygen would result in combustion rather than pyrolysis. However, oxygen may be indirectly involved in later stages of the process, such as during the refining of the liquified gas.

I hope this answers your questions and provides you with a better understanding of the process of converting plastic into oil. Please feel free to ask any further questions you may have.