UTILIZATION OF PLASTIC WASTE BY VARIOUS METHOD By R Pandey The discovery of the plastic brought a change in human life standard,

made the things more easier than pre-plastic days . It has entered the various part of our life, in such a way, so that if removed we shall start feeling vacuum. But no body had thought at that time that this will be a monster in long run and may effect the life on the earth. So immediate steps are required to save the humanity and life from its ill effect. There are three alternatives possible. a) Stop any further use , manufacture of plastic and go for clay , plant dependent products . Seems not possible, as it has entered our life a great extent that difficult to remove, till alternative similar friendly products are developed . b) Develop alternative material which can replace, but its waste can be utilize. For this alternative the only group can help is basic scientist, who can develop a formulation and applied scientist, engineers who can make product from that . This may be time taking , but it has to be done . c) Find methods to reduce the effect, by utilization of plastic wastes for useful purpose . Basic scientist can help in this by developing process and applied scientist by commercializing this. Some work is already being done in this direction by various institutions inside India abroad. Following is the collection of some information in this respect.

Processing of plastic waste in steel and iron industry As fuel: Some trials has been done for utilization of plastic waste in co-incinerated as
fuel in the iron and steel industry. If successful in long run this will reduce coal consumption and hence in reduction in the consumption of energy. The proportion of waste plastic added to coal had been about 1% by mass. Increased addition of waste plastic has not been found promising yet. In coke oven The use of plastic in coke ovens-a typical high-temperature process in the iron and steel industry was put in practice in the year 2000 at Nippon Steel Corporation, Japan. In this process, the collected and baled plastic waste that has been agglomerated by pretreatment is mixed together with coal and charged into coke oven. The mixed plastic waste

and coal were carbonized in an oxygen-free reducing atmosphere at about 1,100 to 1,2000C. As a result, the waste plastic is thermally decomposed into coke (about 20%), tar/light oil (about 40%) and coke oven gas (about 40%). These products obtained by the carbonization of waste plastics have their own uses. When plastics are used together with coke, CO2 emission is significantly less. The excessive reducing gases can also used for blast furnace stove and power generation. Blast Furnace: Plastics waste has been tried as an alternative fuel in blast furnaces and can be used as a reducing agent in blast furnaces for the manufacturing of iron from its ore. Use of coke in blast furnace provides only one type of reducing agent- carbon Monoxide. In contrast, use of plastic waste provides one additional type of reducing agent Hydrogen. Advantage of this process includes use of all types of plastics including laminated plastics without creating any environmental pollution. The high temperature inside the blast furnace around 20000C ensures that there is no possibility of any dioxins formation even if PVC is processed..As cost of waste plastics will be less than coke, use of plastics waste can reduces the raw material cost. Use of plastics waste can also reduces the ash generation, ensuring cleaner operation. The process is not yet fully developed

Utilization of plastic waste in road construction

To address the plastics waste disposal issue, an attempt has been made to see the possibilities of reusing the plastics waste in road construction. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Delhi has published Indicative Operational Guidelines on Construction of Polymer Bitumen Roads for reuse of waste plastics (PROBES/101/2005-06). The document explains the method of collection, cleaning process, shredding, sieving and then mixing with bitumen for road laying. This studies was carried out by Thiagarajar college of Engineering, Madurai and the report was circulated to all the State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees and other road laying agencies for reference. It has been informed that by using this technology (plastics waste coated aggregate bitumen mix), some roads have been laid in the States of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. To evaluate the performance of the built roads using plastics waste coated aggregate (PCA) bitumen mix and also to generate data base for evolving Standards by Indian Road Congress (IRC), CPCB has instituted a study on Performance Studies of Polymer Coated Bitumen Built Roads during 2002-2007 to Thigarajar college of Engineering, Madurai. The report gives the comparision of parameters

suggested by Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and Indian Road Congress (IRC) which may be refered for further information..

Co-incineration of Plastics Waste in Cement Kilns

Keeping in view the problems associated with the disposal of plastic waste, CPCB initiated a study on Co-incineration of plastic waste in cement kiln in collaboration with Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE),and MP Pollution Control Board and ACC Ltd. . At ACC Ltd, Kymore trial run of plastic waste was carried out in association with stakeholders. During the trial run 1.5% plastic waste was used as alternate fuel along with the coal. The average caloric value of plastic waste used was 34.34 MJ/Kg. The process not yet standardized .

The generation of plastic wastes is so high that unless some industrial application is developed , it will be difficult to consume all . All these industrial trials have to be commercialized, as these are associated with many other problems to be solved. Effort from Govt agencies , municipalities and incentive to use the waste should be available , so that industries are encourage to utilize same , otherwise it will remain in trial stage . By Rajeswar Pandey Dy. Executive Director Kapilas Cement Manufacturing Works (A unit of OCL India Limited)