Project Plastics

8/8/2019 Project Plastics

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TOPIC: AN INVESTIGATION ON THE PRODUCTION OF FUEL USING PLASTICS

Introduction

The study focuses on whether plastics are able to produce fuel which can be

used as an alternative source of fuel. The fuel is going to be obtained

through the burning of plastics and distillation of plastic as the last stage.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Most people have concerns about littered plastics that are include shopping

bags, carrier bags, plastic containers and many more. Most often these

plastics are intended for single use, to carry item from the shops to the

home. After that they are thrown way as litter. Plastics are resistant to the

environment, being able to sustain a variety of weather conditions without

disintegration (non-biodegradable).

The raw materials that are used to manufacture and produce plastics are

inexpensive and this lead to plastics being produced in large quantities

causing a thereat to the environment.

Looking into the environment people are causing deforestation because ofinsufficient supply of electricity and other energy sources. The researcher is

going to research and find out whether plastics are able to produce fuel that

can be used as an alternative source of energy so that people at large can

conserve the environment.

From the research done by RAMSDEN(1993) both plastics and the already

existing fuels like petrol and paraffin are all derived from petroleum and they

are separated by fractional distillation. Plastics and modern day fuels have a

similarity in that they produce the same products that are carbon dioxide

and water. The similarity then suggests that the materials used to make

crude fuel are the same as the ones found in plastics.


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BRIGGS (1994) suggests that fuels like paraffin and petrol are a mixture of

hydro carbons that have five to ten carbon molecules in the hydrocarbon

chain. Plastics are polymers of small hydrocarbon units joined to form a large

single molecule.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Can fuel be produced from plastics?

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. How can the release of toxic gases be avoided in the experiment?

2. Is the fuel efficient and enough to be used as an alternative source of

energy?

3. What is the proportion of plastics used to fuel produced?

4. Is it profitable?

HYPOTHESIS

Fuel can be produced from plastics by the process of distillation.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To promote low cost fuel which requires less skill and unsophisticated

machinery

2. To create an environmentally friendly atmosphere by eliminating

plastics

3. To provide people with information on how to make their own fuel

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The findings of the research will enable people to create an alternative

source of fuel that will be used as an energy source to compliment

insufficient supply of energy especially electricity. By recycling discarded


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plastics, the process would be getting rid of waste that lies freely in the

environment making surroundings cleaner. It will also create employment for

the unemployed.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

PLASTICS: Plastics which are natural synthetic materials which are

produced by chemically modifying natural substances.

PETROLEUM: A mineral oil that forms under the ground or the sea and is

extracted through holes sunk beneath it

DISPOSING: Is a method by which unwanted waste products are gotten rid

of.

THERMOPLASTIC: A type of synthetic polymers which are hard at room

temperature but become soft and viscous when heated.

DISTILLATION: It is a process of separation of liquid from a solid.


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CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

INTRODUCTION

2.0 This chapter focuses on the ideas or information from other authors

related to the topic under discussion.

2.1 ORIGIN OF FUEL

Petroleum is a type of fuel which is known to have originated from dead

plants and animals that were found in the seas and oceans. It is generally

accepted that they formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants andanimals by exposure to heat and pressure in the earths crust over millions

of years. The fossil fuels include coal, petroleum and natural gases which

contain high percentages of carbon RAMSDEN (2000).

Fossil fuels are non renewable resources and they take millions of years to

form and reserves are being depleted faster than new ones are being made

hence there is a need to find alternatives. The production of coal and uses of

fossil fuels raise environmental concerns for they produce a lot of carbondioxide into the atmosphere which has negative effect on the ozone layer.

Ozone layer is a blanket of air that avoids direct sun rays from directly

affecting the earth.


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The crude oil extracted from the earths surface can be fractioned to produce

different forms of alkanes which are modern day fuels. Petroleum is also

formed from fractionation process and it is a source of most skin jellies and

also happen to be the origin of plastics.

2.2 STRUCTURE OF FUELS

Modern fossil fuels area mainly alkanes which are a mixture of hydrocarbons,

made up of hydrogen and carbon. Alternative fuels tend to be made up of

small fairly simple molecules for example methane (CH4)

STRUCTURE OF METHANE


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STRUCTURE OF PROPANE (C3H8)


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The differences in structures lead to different boiling points and chemical

properties.

2.3 PLASTICS

Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semi

synthetic organic amorphous solid materials used in the manufacture of

industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass

and may contain other substances to improve performance and reduce

costs.

According to RAMSDEN (1193:765); plastics are polymers of carbon

compounds. They are low in density, strong and they can be moulded into a

variety of shapes. They are also resistant to chemical attack and to

corrosion.

Some plastics harden when they are cooled but soften when heated. Plastics

are natural synthetic materials. They are produced by chemically modifying

natural substances or are synthesized from inorganic and organic material.

On the basis of their physical structure or character, plastics are usually


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divided into thermostats, elastomers and thermoplastics. These groups differ

primarily with regard to molecular structure which is what determines their

differing in thermal behavior. Examples of thermoplastics are polythene,

polystyrene, and poly (chloroethene). Thermosetting plastics are those that

are shaped during manufacture and once they are solid they harden and will

not soften again when heated. Examples are polyurethane, phenolic resins

and melamine.

2.4 STRUCTURE OF PLASTICS

Unlike the metals their molecules are arranged into crystalline lattices but

polymers have molecules arranged into long strip of molecules.

Carbon is contained in all organic materials and can be easily linked to other

materials such as hydrogen and oxygen because of its need to find four

electrons. Carbon is the main ingredient in the long chained polymer

molecules that forms covalent bonds with other materials. This carbon chain

is known as polymer back bone.

RAMSDEN (1993;765) says plastics are polymers of carbon compound.

They are low in density, strong and can be moulded into a variety of shapes.Plastics are different I structures between thermoplastics and thermosetting

plastics.

THE STRUCTURE OF THERMOPLASTICS

NAME STRUCTURE

1. Linear polymer

e.g.polyethene

A AAAAA


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2. Linear copolymer

e.g. nylon

ABABABA

STRUCTURE OF THERMOSETTING

1. POLYTHENE

2. STRUCTURE OF POLYVINYLCHLORIDE


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2.5 COMBUSTION OF ALKANES AND PLASTICS

Alkanes burn on oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water vapour. If there is

insufficient oxygen for the reaction, carbon monoxide is formed instead of

carbon dioxide.

CH4 + 4O2 cO2 + 2H2O

Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC) burns and forms carbon dioxide, water, hydrogen

chloride and energy but polyethene burns to form carbon dioxide, water and

energy just like the alkanes.

RAMSDEN (2000) SAYS because of their saturated nature alkanes are

generally very inert compounds. However under certain conditions alkanes

can undergo some chemical reactions.

2.6 STABILITY OF HYDROCARBONS

Hydrocarbons are generally stable because of the strong carbon-carbon

hydrogen-carbon bond that exists in the hydrogen polymers. This makes

them very unreactive and can only react when high activation energy has

been supplied to break the bonds.

2.7 DISTILLATION OF PLASTICS

Plastics are a danger to the environment for they are a threat to the

environment because of the fact that they are non-biodegradable. WINFIELD

(2003; 53) says plastics are non-biodegradable and they continuously

increase waste in the environment. Because of this waste it becomes

unreasonable to continuously dispose them into the environment. In place of

that there are better methods that can get rid of the waste from the

environment.

When het is supplied to plastic materials it gains heat and absorbs it and

thereby breaking the nearby bonds in the carbon chain causing the polymer


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to break up. The polymer melts as the bonds break up and further increase

in temperature causes the molten matter to reach its boiling point.

For most alkanes ranging from (c5 to c10) gases emitted are at different

temperatures. The temperatures range from 200c to 1200c. After heating a

wax remains in the container.

2.8 CONCLUSION

For the fear of fossil fuel going to extinction and it being a non-renewable

source there is need to find alternatives that is renewable and not a threat to

the environment. Furthermore on the reason of plastics being non-

biodegradable, it is of great importance that some other means have to be

used in order to dispose them. Through the information gathered concerning

plastics if they can be used in the manufacture of fuel it can be of great use

to the society.

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY


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3.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter seeks to discuss the experiments carried out, collection of the

plastics samples, apparatus and materials used. Methodology is concerned

with detailed research methods, which data is collected and the general

ideas upon which collection and analysis of data is based. Methodology

therefore is seen as an operational framework within the facts are placed so

that their meaning can be seen clearly and worthy at the end.

3.1 RESEACH INSTRUMENT

A research instrument is a procedure or tools used to collect information

from people under the study. The researcher used different methods of

gathering data. The researcher intends to use the observation and the

interview as the research instrument. The usefulness of these tools is

determined by task at hand, the person using it and availability

3.2.1 OBSERVATION

According to Oakley (1981) an observation is an act of gathering impression

from the surrounding world through all human faculties. Through this

technique the problem of fuel being faced by institutions was noted. Moving

around the community, a lot of waste plastics were lying in the environment

and they attracted the attention of the researcher that they could be a

possible source of fuel that could rescue the situation. It was also through

this instrument that results from different experiments that were carried out

were noted.

3.2.2 INTERVIEW

This was the other method that was used to find out peoples views and

contributions towards the project. According to SIDHU (1984; 76) says that

an interview is a way in which the investigator gathers data directly from

others in a face to face contact with one being interrogated. Therefore an


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interview requires the proximity of two or more people. Interviews are used

to gather information about the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, knowledge,

experience and understanding of subjects of the topic under discussion.

A number of useful ideas, positive and negative comments are obtained from

the interviewing process. Informal interviews were organized where much

information was tapped from some scientists and other people in the

community.

3.2.3 POPULATION SAMPLING

Borg (1979) defined population as all members of a real or hypothetical set

of people, events or objects to which we wish to generalize the results of the

research. Plastic materials made up of Polyvinyl Chloride (pvc) and

polythene were taken as a sample from the environment around Belvedere

Teachers College. Interviews were chosen randomly from the population

around the college.

3.3. RESEARCH DESIGN

Borg and Gall (1989) defined research design as a procedure used by the

researcher to explore the relationship between variables, administered

measures of application and treatment that analyse the data. Nachmias andWachmias (1985; 76) also defined a research design as a biological model

of proof that guides the investigator in the various stages of research. The

procedure below is to be folloed.

Materials Required

1) 300G of plastics

2) Conical flask

3) Condenser

4) Beam balance

5) Thermometer


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WEIGHING

1) A mass of 300g of plastics were weighed using a triple beam balance

and cut into small pieces using a scissors

2) The plastic s are put in conical flask and are heated. The plastics

turned into liquid. The molten plastics are further heated in a closed

container connected to condenser so that when the liquid turns into

vapour it could be turned back to liquid for bottling to be possible. The

distillate produced from this experiment is the fuel

3) After twenty five minutes of distillation the volume of distillate (fuel)

produced is measured using a measuring cylinder.

TESTING FUEL

The fuel produced was put in a burner that uses paraffin to see if the fuel

could burn to produce light and heat just as paraffin or any other fuel.

CONCLUSION

Research instruments used were very efficient as much information needed

could be collected. The results of experiment and interpretations are written

in next chapter.


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CHAPTER 4

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.0. INTRODUCTION

This chapter serves to present the research findings of all the experiments

done in the fuel production process

4.1 PRESENATION OF RESEARCH.

TABLE SHOWING TEMPERATURE AND WHAT WAS OBSERVED DURING

THE DISTILLATION PROCESS.

TEMPERATURE 0C OBSERVATION

25 0C Chocking white fumes that could

not be condensed were produced

80 0C Molten plastics started boiling and

a distillate was collected

86 0C The molten plastics were boiling

but no distillate was being

collected


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INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

The white fumes being produced were a mixture of gas such as chlorine,

hydrogen, nitrogen oxides. As the plastics melted, the bonds were being

broken and the gases are released into the atmosphere.

This is not environmentally friendly as the gases pollute the air and also

cause harm on the living organisms. At 80 0C an alkane of boiling point 80 0C

was being produced. Having iodised at the boiling points of different alkanes,

hexane was the one which had a similar boiling point, suggesting that it was

likely to be the alkane that was being produced. Above 86 0C molten plastics

were still boiling but no distillate was being collected.

4.2 TABLE SHOWING AVERAGE MASS OF PLASTICS AND VOLUME OF FUEL

PRODUCED

Mass of plastics ( g) Volume of fuel (cm3)

100 50

100 50

200 100

200 100


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Using proportionality, the table below shows the relationship between the

mass of plastics and the volume of fuel produced.

Mass(g) 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

Volume(c

m3)

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Graph showing the relationship between mass of plastics and volume of fuel

produced using proportionality


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Fifty cubic centimetres of fuel was produced from 100g of plastics within a

space of twenty five minutes. This suggests that the production process is

efficient if done using better equipments. From the graph it can be noted

that the volume is directly proportional to the mass of plastics used. This

implies that if more plastics are distilled then more fuel can be obtained.

From this relationship, the process can be done at a larger scale producing

many litres of fuel. Moreover as more plastics could be then the environment

is cleaned of plasic waste.

4.2 RESULTS OF AN INTERVIEW THAT WAS CARRIED OUT

People supporting use of the plastic fuel 15

People who did not support plastic fuel use 10

GRAPH SHOWING RESULTS OF THE INTERVIEW


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Out of twenty five people interviewed, it was found that a large number of

people supported the use of the fuel. They cited advantages of the fuel beingcheap to manufacture and to buy and be able to rescue them from the

current energy sources like electricity which is very erratic in Zimbabwe.

CONCLUSION

Plastics lying around the country can produce valuable fuel and can be used

in the labs and homes rescuing Zimbabwe from importing the fuel and

saving the much needed foreign currency. Communities have to embark on

large scale plastic fuel production


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CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY

5.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter serves to present the summary, conclusion and

recommendations to the activities that were done during the course of the

project.

5.1. SUMMARY

Fuel can be produced from plastics by dry distillation. This is the hypothesis

from the first chapter. From research findings in chapter four it was proved

that an alkane (hexane) which has a boiling point of 80 0C was produced. The

fuel can be used for heat and lighting just like paraffin which is mainly used

in areas that has no electricity.

The whole manufacturing process did not cost much as the raw materials

needed were readily available in the environment and it was only a matter of

collecting them. By collecting the plastics the surroundings were left clean


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but there was a problem of air pollution since gases like carbon dioxide and

hydrogen chloride were released into the atmosphere. These gases are a

threat to the environment so safety measures have to be taken during the

manufacturing process.

During the experiment a problem was encountered on trying to clean the

flask that was used for distillation. A wax had remained in the flask after

heating and there was no solvent that could dissolve it. Having done all the

experiments it was convincing that fuel could be produced from plastics

basing from results obtained.

5.2 CONCLUSION

Fuel can be produced from plastics and the technique can be used to

produce fuel at large scale. The amount of fuel is directly proportional to

amount of plastics used.

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

Having done the research, the following recommendations were passed

1. The production process has to be done in a well ventilated room as

gases that are produced like carbon dioxide are very poisonous and

can cause death

2. The fuel has to be kept in a closed container because it is very volatile

and it should be kept away from naked fires since it is highly

flammable

3. Further research should be carried out to find and compare the

efficiency of the new fuel against existing ones


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Project Plastics