Characteristics of Synthetic Fuel from Plastic Waste by Gasification Method

Abstract

This study discusses about the synthetic fuel made from plastic waste using gasification method. The instrument used is a simple one phase distillatory. Sample has been tested and analyzed at PT. Pertamina RU V Balikpapan laboratory and Department of Transportation Banjar District. The result shows that this fuel is more alike to diesel fuel type according to its Final Boil Point and density. The smoke result shows that synthetic fuel has 19.73% and diesel fuel has 29.67%. The gas analyses also showed the carbon monoxide of synthetic fuel is 0% and the carbon monoxide of diesel fuel is 0.01%. Both of smoke and gas analyses test of synthetic fuel are less than diesel fuel. Since the distillation process has been done for four to five hours, and the ratio of plastic bucket waste (PP) and plastic bottle waste (PET) is 3:1 (PP:PET) so the pressure vessel capacity is 800 grams. 4000 grams of plastic waste is required to produce 1000 mL of synthetic fuel. The cycle time was approximately 20 hours. The sample testing using ASTM D.1298 method showed that the fuel condition is good and the density 15oC of temperature of 0.8031 g/mL. The result using ASTM D. 85 method shows the Initial Boil Point (IBP) is 60°C, and the Final Boil Point (FBP) is 345 oC.