Publication: Pollutant emissions during the pyrolysis and combustion of starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) biodegradable films
Authors
Moltó, J. ; López Sánchez, B. ; Domene López, D. ; Moreno, A.I. ; Font, R. ; García Montalbán, Mercedes
item.page.secondaryauthor
item.page.director
Publisher
Elsevier
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127107
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. This document is the Published Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Chemosphere. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127107
Abstract
The massive use of petroleum-based polymers and their improper waste treatment has brought on
significant global environmental problems due to their non-biodegradable nature. Starch/poly(vinyl
alcohol) (PVA) bioplastics are suitable substitutes for conventional polymers, such as polyethylene, due
to their full biodegradability and excellent mechanical properties. Knowledge of the pollutant emissions
during pyrolysis and combustion of starch/PVA films is important because they can arrive at landfills
mixed with conventional polymers and be thermally degraded in uncontrolled fires. On the other hand,
controlled thermal treatments could result in thermal valorization of the waste. Pyrolysis and combustion experiments were carried out at 650, 750, 850 and 950 C in a laboratory furnace. The analysis of
carbon oxides, light hydrocarbons, and semivolatile compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is shown. Experiments showed lower pollutant emissions than those found with conventional polymers, such as polyethylene and polyester, in the same equipment. Nevertheless, the
pyrolysis run at 950 C showed the highest light hydrocarbon yield (123013 mg kg 1
), but this is
considerably lower than the values found for polyethylene. The main semivolatile compounds (not PAHs)
emitted, with maximum yields ranging from 1351 to 4694 mg kg 1
, were benzaldehyde, phenol, indene,
and acetophenone. Specifically, the total semivolatile compounds emitted after pyrolysis and combustion
of starch/PVA samples represent only 38 and 50%, respectively, of those emitted with polyethylene.
Further, the main PAHs were naphthalene, acenaphthylene, and phenanthrene with maximum values of
4694, 2704 and 1496 mg kg 1
, respectively. The PAH yield was considerably higher in experiments with
low oxygen content.
publication.page.subject
Citation
Chemosphere, 2020, Vol. 256 : 127107
item.page.embargo
Collections
Ir a Estadísticas
Sin licencia Creative Commons.