Characterization and Valorisation of the Solid Char Residue from the Pyrolysis of End-of-Waste Plastic from LYB MoReTec Technology

This thesis provides an overview about the valorisation of solid char residue generated from the pyrolysis of end-of-waste plastics using LYB MoReTec technology. Plastic waste accumulation poses significant environmental challenges, and pyrolysis emerges as a promising solution to mitigate with traditional plastic waste management practices. The research is focused on the physicochemical properties of the solid char, including its elemental composition, surface morphology and thermal stability utilizing advanced analytics techniques such as BET, ICP-OES, SEM, TGA, NMR and PSD in collaboration with “R&D Center G.Natta”. Furthermore, the study investigates the valorisation of the char as adsorbent media to upgrade Pyrolysis Oil from MoReTec process and purify PFAS contaminated Water. Two distinct types of char were used and different activation methods (Thermal, Thermo-Chemical, Chemical) were applied to enhance the porosity and surface area of the pyrolysis solid residue. In thermal and thermochemical activation an increase in surface area and adsorbent capacity up to 750°C was observed. It has been demonstrated that variations in surface area depend on the type of char and activation technique. The effectiveness of activated chars varies depending on the media in which they are used and activation method. For instance, in PyOil (organics) media, chars functionalized with pyrrole groups demonstrate superior performance. While not showing any improvement when used in aqueous environments. This highlights the importance of matching the char activation method to the final specific application for optimal results. Future work will focus on assessing the long-term impacts of char utilization in environmental and industrial applications.