Thermal degradation of plastic and biomass waste for high-value carbon nanotubes and syngas

An in-depth examination of the pyrolysis behaviour of waste plastics was undertaken, followed by the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from these plastics to improve the economic feasibility of waste management processes. In addition, addressing the impediment of CO₂ emissions in the advancement of biomass as a renewable energy source, this research utilises Integrated Carbon Capture and Utilisation (ICCU) technology to enhance traditional biomass gasification methods.

The goal is to minimize the impact of CO₂ emissions and transform them into high-value syngas. The pyrolysis characteristic parameters of real-world waste plastics were investigated, followed by a further study on high-value CNTs production by a catalytic-pyrolytic method. A two-step process during the novel IGCCU was carried out, consisting of lignin gasification producing syngas and hydrocarbon vapors, along with a large amount of unfavorable CO₂, and the produced CO₂ was internally absorbed by CaO, and the captured CO₂ was efficiently converted into CO in the presence of H₂.