Non-biodegradable polymeric waste pyrolysis for energy recovery
Open accessAbstract
Nowadays, increasing population, widespread urbanization, rise in living standards together with versatile use of polymers have caused non-biodegradable polymeric wastes affecting the environment a chronic global problem, simultaneously, the existing high energy demand in our society is a matter of great concern. Hence forth, this review article provides an insight into the technological approach of pyrolysis emphasizing catalytic pyrolysis for conversion of polymeric wastes into energy products and presents an alternative waste management technique which is a leap towards developing sustainable environment. Pyrolysis of waste non-biodegradable polymer materials involves controlled thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen, cracking their macromolecules into lower molecular weight ones, resulting into the formation of a wide range of products from hydrogen, hydrocarbons to coke. Nanocatalyzed pyrolysis is a recommended solution to the low thermal conductivity of polymers, promoting faster reactions in breaking the C-C bonds at lower temperatures, denoting less energy consumption and enabling enhancement in the process selectivity, whereby higher value added products are generated with increased yield. Nanotechnology plays an indispensable role in academic research as well as in industrial applications. Existing reviews illustrate that one of the oldest application field of nanotechnology is in the arena of nanocatalysis. Nanocatalysis closes the gap between homo and heterogeneous catalyses while combines their advantageous characteristics and positive aspects, reducing the respective drawbacks. During the current nanohype, nanostructured catalysts are esteemed materials and their exploration provide promising solutions for challenges from the perspective of cost and factors influencing catalytic activity, due to their featured high surface area to volume ratio which render enhanced properties with respect to the bulk catalyst.
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Fuels in the third ecofuel category are generated through thermal treatment, often pyrolysis, of non-biodegradable waste materials, primarily plastics and end-of-life tires.
“A third category involves fuels generated through the thermal treatment, often pyrolysis, of non-biodegradable waste materials, primarily plastics and other carbonaceous residues like end-of-life tires [75].”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
The Introduction and the ‘Pyrolysis of polymeric wastes’ section describe producing usable fuels by thermally treating non-biodegradable plastics. The paper does not define a third ecofuel category or identify end-of-life tires as a primary feedstock; waste-tyre fuel appears in a cited study in the References (no page numbers available). (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe escalating global accumulation of non-biodegradable materials, particularly postconsumer plastics and end-of-life tires, presents a formidable environmental challenge, necessitating innovative waste management strategies and circular economy pathways.
“The escalating global accumulation of non-biodegradable materials, particularly postconsumer plastics and end-of-life tires, presents a formidable environmental challenge, necessitating innovative waste management strategies and the development of circular economy pathways [75].”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPyrolysis is a highly suitable thermochemical conversion technology for transforming polymeric waste into fuel, alongside gasification and incineration for energy recovery.
“Pyrolysis is considered a highly suitable thermochemical conversion technology for transforming polymeric waste into fuel, with other notable methods including gasification and, for energy recovery, incineration [75,323].”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
The Introduction describes pyrolysis as a route for converting non-biodegradable polymer waste into fuels, and the waste-management overview identifies incineration as another method of energy recovery. The Conclusions call the pyrolysis approach attractive and effective. However, the paper does not discuss gasification as a notable alternative method; the search found it only in reference titles. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCapital costs of pyrolysis, gasification, or HTL plants can be substantial, and resulting oils or syngas often require significant and costly upgrading to meet fuel specifications or chemical feedstock purity.
“However, the capital costs of pyrolysis, gasification, or HTL plants can be substantial, and the resulting oils or syngas often require significant and costly upgrading (e.g., desulfurization, hydrotreatment [396,397]) to meet fuel specifications or chemical feedstock purity requirements [75,354].”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
The Introduction says pyrolysis products can be poor-quality fuels, and the ‘Catalytic pyrolysis’ section says contaminated polymeric waste can yield oil of compromised quality and gases unsuitable as fuel without refining. The paper also identifies catalyst costs, but it does not establish substantial plant capital costs or significant, costly upgrading across pyrolysis, gasification, and HTL to meet fuel or chemical-feedstock specifications. The indexed passages provide section labels but no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredWaste-derived fuels utilize problematic nonbiodegradable waste streams, particularly post-consumer plastics and end-of-life tires, addressing pollution while generating energy carriers.
“Waste-derived fuels offer a unique proposition by utilizing problematic nonbiodegradable waste streams, particularly post-consumer plastics and end-of-life tires [346], thereby addressing a significant environmental pollution issue while generating energy carriers [75].”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
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References 195 · Cited by 146
Research works printed but not linked: 7
- [2]Scott G. Polymer and the Environment 1999 RSC Paperbacks Cambridge 132p
- [6]Indian plastic industry review & outlook, plastindia foundation report [ http://www.cipad.org/files/files/india_2006.pdf].
- [10]Wiseman P. Petrochemicals 1986 Wiley New York
- [14]Ojeda T. Chapter 1, polymers and the environment Polymer Science 2013 Intech 1 34
- [119]Othman N. Basri N.E.A. Yunus M.N.M. Sidek L.M. Determination of physical and chemical characteristics of electronic plastic waste (Ep-Waste) resin using proximate and ultimate analysis method International Conference on Construction and Building Technology 2008 169 180
- [122]The ImpEE Project at the university of Cambridge, Recycling of Plastics 2005 © University of Cambridge
- [146]Lopez A. Marcod I. Caballero B.M. Laresgoiti M.F. Adrados A. Torres A. Pyrolysis of municipal plastic waste II: influence of raw material composition under catalytic conditions Waste Manag. 31 2011 1973 1983 21689920
- Authors
- Dwivedi, P., Mishra, P. K., Mondal, M. K., & Srivastava, N.
- Affiliations
- Indian Institute of Technology BHU (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Dwivedi, Poushpi
- ORCID
- Srivastava, Neha
- Venue
- Heliyon
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-08
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- e02198
- ISSN
- 2405-8440 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7184634
- OpenAlex
- W2971188139
- Cited by
- 146
- References
- 195
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 12
- FWCI
- 1.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Heliyon (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Science and Engineering Research Board
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Thermal and Kinetic Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Keywords
- pyrolysis, catalytic pyrolysis, nanocatalysis, nanocatalysts, energy recovery, waste management, thermal decomposition, value-added products, heterogeneous catalysis, surface-to-volume ratio
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