Optimizing process parameters and materials for the conversion of plastic waste into hydrogen

Hossain, ST; Mahmud, MAP

Optimizing process parameters and materials for the conversion of plastic waste into hydrogen

Hossain, ST Mahmud, MAP

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Publisher:: IOP Publishing Ltd
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Engineering Research Express, 2024, 6, (4)
Issue Date:: 2024-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hossain, ST
dc.contributor.author	Mahmud, MAP
dc.date.accessioned	2025-01-03T03:43:30Z
dc.date.available	2025-01-03T03:43:30Z
dc.date.issued	2024-12-01
dc.identifier.citation	Engineering Research Express, 2024, 6, (4)
dc.identifier.issn	2631-8695
dc.identifier.issn	2631-8695
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/182952
dc.description.abstract	This study has investigated hydrogen production from waste plastics using pyrolysis, steam methane reforming, and water-gas-shift reactions modelled via Aspen Plus. After evaluating multiple alternatives, polypropylene (PP) was selected as the feedstock. The research has been focused on how reformer temperature, steam-to-fuel ratio (S/F), reformer pressure, and pyrolysis temperature impact syngas composition, heating values, syngas (H2/CO) ratios, and yields of hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Key findings have indicated that raising reformer temperatures to around 1000°C maximizes hydrogen production in syngas, reaching peak levels of 2360 Nm3/Ton and 2525 Nm3/Ton for reformer temperature and steam-to-fuel ratio (S/F) ratios, respectively, via processes like steam methane reforming and the water-gas-shift reaction. Moreover, other parameters like steam-to-fuel (S/F) ratio and reformer pressure have produced the highest amount of hydrogen at 0.25 and 1 atm, respectively. Optimizing reformer temperature and steam-to-fuel ratio (S/F) have been selected as key in hydrogen production, with peak lower heating values (LHV) of 1.15 MJ/kg for temperature and 1.035 MJ/kg for S/F ratios, highlighting the importance of balancing these parameters for efficiency. Additionally, syngas' hydrogen (H2) composition increased with pyrolysis temperature, peaking at 8.5% at 700°C. Finally, this research has provided valuable insights into optimizing process parameters for sustainable hydrogen production. Moreover, the simulation process has provided cost-effective adjustments and informed decision-making for sustainable and scalable technologies, benefiting researchers, investors, engineers, and policymakers involved in innovative hydrogen generation.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	IOP Publishing Ltd
dc.relation.ispartof	Engineering Research Express
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1088/2631-8695/ad829f
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	40 Engineering
dc.title	Optimizing process parameters and materials for the conversion of plastic waste into hydrogen
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-01-03T03:43:29Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	6
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

This study has investigated hydrogen production from waste plastics using pyrolysis, steam methane reforming, and water-gas-shift reactions modelled via Aspen Plus. After evaluating multiple alternatives, polypropylene (PP) was selected as the feedstock. The research has been focused on how reformer temperature, steam-to-fuel ratio (S/F), reformer pressure, and pyrolysis temperature impact syngas composition, heating values, syngas (H2/CO) ratios, and yields of hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Key findings have indicated that raising reformer temperatures to around 1000°C maximizes hydrogen production in syngas, reaching peak levels of 2360 Nm3/Ton and 2525 Nm3/Ton for reformer temperature and steam-to-fuel ratio (S/F) ratios, respectively, via processes like steam methane reforming and the water-gas-shift reaction. Moreover, other parameters like steam-to-fuel (S/F) ratio and reformer pressure have produced the highest amount of hydrogen at 0.25 and 1 atm, respectively. Optimizing reformer temperature and steam-to-fuel ratio (S/F) have been selected as key in hydrogen production, with peak lower heating values (LHV) of 1.15 MJ/kg for temperature and 1.035 MJ/kg for S/F ratios, highlighting the importance of balancing these parameters for efficiency. Additionally, syngas' hydrogen (H2) composition increased with pyrolysis temperature, peaking at 8.5% at 700°C. Finally, this research has provided valuable insights into optimizing process parameters for sustainable hydrogen production. Moreover, the simulation process has provided cost-effective adjustments and informed decision-making for sustainable and scalable technologies, benefiting researchers, investors, engineers, and policymakers involved in innovative hydrogen generation.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/182952