Life-cycle analysis of fuels from post-use non-recycled plastics
Abstract
Plastic-to-fuel (PTF) technology uses pyrolysis to convert plastic waste—especially non-recycled plastics (NRP)—into ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel. To assess the potential energy and environmental benefits associated with PTF technology, we calculated the energy, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions of NRP-derived ULSD and compared the results to those metrics for conventional ULSD fuel. For these analyses, we used the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation (GREET®) model. Five companies provided pyrolysis process product yields and material and energy consumption data. Co-products of the process included char and fuel gas. Char can be landfilled, which, per the company responses, is the most common practice for this co-product, or it may be sold as an energy product. Fuel gas can be combusted to internally generate process heat and electricity. Sensitivity analyses investigated the influence of co-product handling methodology, product yield, electric grid composition, and assumed efficiency of char combustion technology on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the GHG emissions would likely be reduced up to 14% when it is compared to conventional ULSD, depending on the co-product treatment method used. NRP-derived ULSD fuel could therefore be considered at a minimum carbon neutral with the potential to offer a modest GHG reduction. Furthermore, this waste-derived fuel had 58% lower water consumption and up to 96% lower fossil fuel consumption than conventional ULSD fuel in the base case. In addition to the comparison of PTF fuels with conventional transportation fuels, we also compare the results with alternative scenarios for managing NRP including power generation and landfilling in the United States.
- Publication:
-
Fuel
- Pub Date:
- September 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.04.070
- Bibcode:
- 2017Fuel..203...11B
- Keywords:
-
- PTF;
- Plastic-to-fuel;
- NRP;
- Non-recycled plastics;
- ULSD;
- Ultra-low sulfur diesel;
- GREET;
- Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation;
- GHG;
- Greenhouse gas;
- LCA;
- Life-cycle analysis;
- WTE;
- Waste-to-energy;
- MSW;
- Municipal solid waste;
- MRF;
- Material recovery facility;
- PET;
- Polyethylene terephthalate;
- t;
- metric ton;
- LDPE;
- Low-density polyethylene;
- HDPE;
- High-density polyethylene;
- PP;
- Polypropylene;
- PVC;
- Polyvinyl chloride;
- EERE;
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy;
- EPA;
- Environmental protection agency;
- RFC;
- Reliability First Corporation;
- FRCC;
- Florida Reliability Coordinating Council;
- TRE;
- Texas Reliability Entity;
- NPCC;
- Northeast Power Coordinating Council;
- NERC;
- North American Electric Reliability Corporation;
- CA;
- California;
- BAU;
- Business as usual;
- WTP;
- Well-to-pump;
- Plastic-to-fuel;
- Non-recycled plastic;
- Pyrolysis;
- Life-cycle analysis;
- Waste plastic management