Title
Greenhouse gas benefits from direct chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste
Author
van der Hulst, M.K.
Ottenbros, A.B.
van der Drift, B.
Ferjan, S.
van Harmelen, A.K.
Schwarz, A.E.
Worrell, E.
van Zelm, R.
Huijbregts, M.A.J.
Hauck, M.
Publication year
2022
Abstract
Dealing with heterogeneous plastic waste – i.e., high polymer heterogeneity, additives, and contaminants – and lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from plastic production requires integrated solutions. Here, we quantified current and future GHG footprints of direct chemical conversion of heterogeneous post-consumer plastic waste feedstock to olefins, a base material for plastics. The net GHG footprint of this recycling system is −0.04 kg CO2-eq./kg waste feedstock treated, including credits from avoided production of virgin olefins, electricity, heat, and credits for the partial biogenic content of the waste feedstock. Comparing chemical recycling of this feedstock to incineration with energy recovery presents GHG benefits of 0.82 kg CO2-eq./kg waste feedstock treated. These benefits were found to increase to 1.37 kg CO2-eq./kg waste feedstock treated for year 2030 when including (i) decarbonization of steam and electricity production and (ii) process optimizations to increase olefin yield through carbon capture and utilization and conversion of side-products.
Subject
Carbon capture and utilization (CCU)
Emerging technology
High value chemicals
Industry decarbonization
Life cycle assessment (LCA)
Prospective
Environment & Sustainability
Urbanisation
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ee529533-c857-48b1-8022-48cc67f6e874
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106582
TNO identifier
973685
ISSN
0921-3449
Source
Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 186 (186)
Document type
article