title: Pyrolysis and catalytic pyrolysis as a recycling method of waste CDs originating from polycarbonate and HIPS.
abstract: Pyrolysis appears to be a promising recycling process since it could convert the disposed polymers to hydrocarbon based fuels or various useful chemicals. In the current study, two model polymers found in WEEEs, namely polycarbonate (PC) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and their counterparts found in waste commercial Compact Discs (CDs) were pyrolysed in a bench scale reactor. Both, thermal pyrolysis and pyrolysis in the presence of two catalytic materials (basic MgO and acidic ZSM-5 zeolite) was performed for all four types of polymers. Results have shown significant recovery of the monomers and valuable chemicals (phenols in the case of PC and aromatic hydrocarbons in the case of HIPS), while catalysts seem to decrease the selectivity towards the monomers and enhance the selectivity towards other desirable compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Antonakou
authors.affiliation: Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Kalogiannis
authors.affiliation: Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Stephanidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Triantafyllidis
authors.affiliation: Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lappas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: axilias@chem.auth.gr.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Achilias
mesh_terms: D016250:Compact Disks; D017745:Incineration; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D059027:Recycling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011137:Polystyrenes; C005506:polycarbonate
keywords: Compact discs; Monomers; Pyrolysis; Waste electrical and electronic equipment