A review on catalytic pyrolysis of municipal plastic waste

Plastic pollution is a global issue that severely threatens the environment if not managed properly. Plastic waste is widely treated in unsustainable ways such as landfill and incineration that generally do not contribute to the circular economy or to the principles of the United Nation's sustainable development goals. Catalytic pyrolysis of plastic waste is considered an alternative solution with its potential of recovering fuels and chemicals from the plastic waste that is not recyclable. Here, we described for the first time the main steps required for running an operational pyrolysis plant from a whole system perspective. The recent advancement of plastic pyrolysis technologies is also described to guide the selection of relevant catalysts. The practical applications of products from the plastic pyrolysis are succinctly reviewed. This review will facilitate the development of the capacity to make better decisions upon the design and analysis of plastic pyrolysis processes and systems. This article is categorized under: Sustainable Energy > Bioenergy Climate and Environment > Circular Economy Emerging Technologies > Materials Sustainable Energy > Energy Efficiency.