Pyrolysis of waste-derived fuel mixtures containing PVC

This paper describes an experimental analysis of the pyrolysis of PVC and mixtures of PVC with wood (Finnish pine) and LDPE (low density polyethene) in nitrogen at 250–400 °C. The aim is to optimise the temperature range for producing low-chlorine or chlorine-free fuel in a dehydrochlorination reactor without pyrolysing any of the other combustible fractions. Results are presented for various process temperatures for PVC, PVC/wood and PVC/LDPE mixtures. It was found that the PVC tested is dehydrochlorinated at approximately 350 °C, and that secondary pyrolysis is suppressed when LDPE is present.