Reclaiming Oil From Plastics a Recycling Reality
by Alex Freeman • March 28, 2015
http://thefifthcolumnnews.com/2015/03/reclaim...g-reality/
Niagara Falls, NY (TFC) – Companies in the US and Japan have independently developed technologies to convert waste plastics into diesel fuel with minimal energy input. The process for both heats waste plastics to a gaseous state, filtering them through a closed loop system, where water cools the gasses. The remaining distillate is up to 86% high quality diesel fuel. The remainder of gasses help fuel the system through a feedback loop, and also produces a small amount of high BTU fuel called PetCoke, or Carbon Black.
Plastic2Oil has been developing its industrial P2O system since 2009. In 2011, it contracted with Rock-Tenn, a paper and corrugated paperboard manufacturer and recycler, to convert company wastes into fuels for the company. Two years later, Plastic2Oil entered into a similar arrangement with the Crayola Company. Just this year, Plastic2Oil entered into an agreement with EcoNavigation, so the technology is spreading. Since its founding, Plastic2Oil has developed 1 Ton and 20 Ton models, as independent testing and permitting have expanded its abilities in the waste and recycling markets.
JBI, the Canadian predecessor of US based Plastic2Oil, stated of early models without filters or scrubbers, “the final average emissions for 3,923 lbs/hr were 15.97% O2, 3.05% CO2, 3.1ppm (parts per million) CO, 15.1 ppm NOx, 2.88 ppm TNMHC and 0.02ppm of SO2. The NOx emission was approximately one-fifth that of the original P2O processor tested 1 year ago.” This 2011 quality control test allowed for the company’s entrance into New York. Since then, Plastic2Oil has increased the size and output of its industrial plastic recycler.
Currently, one ton of waste plastic will net 241 gallons, or roughly 5.5 barrels of ultra-low Sulphur diesel. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States consumes nearly 14 Million tons of recyclable plastics each year. Of this, only 9% is recycled. Passed through Plastic2Oil’s processors, recycling the remaining 91% of waste could put 80 Million barrels/year of oil back into the market without further need for drilling or exploration. Although a relatively small amount compared to the US’s 12 Million barrel/day production levels, reclaiming these materials not only reduces overall drilling impact, but also prevents millions of tons from ending up in landfills or the world’s oceans. According to plastics watchdog group Ocean Crusaders, 269,000 tons of waste plastics are currently filling the oceans around the world.
In Japan, Blest has developed similar technology for home use. Blest’s 1kg unit produces nearly identical results as the Plastic2Oil model. Using only 1kw/h of electricity, the amount of energy used to reclaim oil from home plastic wastes is minimal. On average, that’s about 12 cents worth of electricity for about a dollar’s worth of oil. You can view a Blest demonstration here.
Plastic consumption has increased by about 4% per year, and nearly 7% of all oil production goes into the development of plastics. These growth and consumption rates translate into a 20,000% increase of plastics use over the last 50 years. Aggregating the recycling of waste plastics could offer significant two way benefits to the environment and the economy. In dollars and cents, that’s roughly $9 Billion a year in realized value from these advancing technologies.
by Alex Freeman • March 28, 2015
http://thefifthcolumnnews.com/2015/03/reclaim...g-reality/
Niagara Falls, NY (TFC) – Companies in the US and Japan have independently developed technologies to convert waste plastics into diesel fuel with minimal energy input. The process for both heats waste plastics to a gaseous state, filtering them through a closed loop system, where water cools the gasses. The remaining distillate is up to 86% high quality diesel fuel. The remainder of gasses help fuel the system through a feedback loop, and also produces a small amount of high BTU fuel called PetCoke, or Carbon Black.
Plastic2Oil has been developing its industrial P2O system since 2009. In 2011, it contracted with Rock-Tenn, a paper and corrugated paperboard manufacturer and recycler, to convert company wastes into fuels for the company. Two years later, Plastic2Oil entered into a similar arrangement with the Crayola Company. Just this year, Plastic2Oil entered into an agreement with EcoNavigation, so the technology is spreading. Since its founding, Plastic2Oil has developed 1 Ton and 20 Ton models, as independent testing and permitting have expanded its abilities in the waste and recycling markets.
JBI, the Canadian predecessor of US based Plastic2Oil, stated of early models without filters or scrubbers, “the final average emissions for 3,923 lbs/hr were 15.97% O2, 3.05% CO2, 3.1ppm (parts per million) CO, 15.1 ppm NOx, 2.88 ppm TNMHC and 0.02ppm of SO2. The NOx emission was approximately one-fifth that of the original P2O processor tested 1 year ago.” This 2011 quality control test allowed for the company’s entrance into New York. Since then, Plastic2Oil has increased the size and output of its industrial plastic recycler.
Currently, one ton of waste plastic will net 241 gallons, or roughly 5.5 barrels of ultra-low Sulphur diesel. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States consumes nearly 14 Million tons of recyclable plastics each year. Of this, only 9% is recycled. Passed through Plastic2Oil’s processors, recycling the remaining 91% of waste could put 80 Million barrels/year of oil back into the market without further need for drilling or exploration. Although a relatively small amount compared to the US’s 12 Million barrel/day production levels, reclaiming these materials not only reduces overall drilling impact, but also prevents millions of tons from ending up in landfills or the world’s oceans. According to plastics watchdog group Ocean Crusaders, 269,000 tons of waste plastics are currently filling the oceans around the world.
In Japan, Blest has developed similar technology for home use. Blest’s 1kg unit produces nearly identical results as the Plastic2Oil model. Using only 1kw/h of electricity, the amount of energy used to reclaim oil from home plastic wastes is minimal. On average, that’s about 12 cents worth of electricity for about a dollar’s worth of oil. You can view a Blest demonstration here.
Plastic consumption has increased by about 4% per year, and nearly 7% of all oil production goes into the development of plastics. These growth and consumption rates translate into a 20,000% increase of plastics use over the last 50 years. Aggregating the recycling of waste plastics could offer significant two way benefits to the environment and the economy. In dollars and cents, that’s roughly $9 Billion a year in realized value from these advancing technologies.
