Optimization of the pyrolysis process of a plastic waste to obtain a liquid fuel using different mathematical models

Highlights: • A process was carried out to obtain a liquid fuel using plastic waste. • Different operating conditions of the pyrolysis process has been studied. • For the optimization of pyrolysis process a statistical analysis has been carried out. -- Abstract: This study examines the possibility of using plastic film waste presented in municipal solid waste as a fuel. There is a large amount of this waste that is currently not treated and ends up in landfills aggravating the global problem of marine and land pollution. A pyrolysis process was performed on this plastic waste to obtain a liquid fuel. For this, an experimental design was carried out, varying the operating conditions. The physical and chemical characteristics of the fuel, such as liquid fraction yield and higher calorific value, were determined and a statistical analysis has been carried out using polynomial and neural fuzzy models. In all the adjustments an r² greater than 0.95 was obtained and the neural fuzzy model fit the experimental data better than the polynomial model. The optimum operating conditions for the production of this oil are: a temperature of 500 °C, a residence time of 120 min, and 20 °C/min of heating rate.