Co-liquefaction of Makarwal coal and waste polystyrene by microwave-metal interaction pyrolysis in copper coil reactor

A novel method for the co-pyrolysis of waste polystyrene with coal was investigated. This method is based on high temperature obtained by microwave copper interaction. This pyrolysis is believed to be the combine action of the high temperature, microwaves interaction and the active species produced during the process. The metal antenna may also catalyze the pyrolysis process and affect the nature of products. This is a faster method of the co-pyrolysis and gives 66% oily liquid which was a mixture of tar and oil, 10% aqueous liquid mainly composed of sulfides, 6% gases and 18% residues. The liquid product was collected using cold traps and the amount of gas was obtained by taking difference. The oily liquid product was analyzed using GC-MS and found that it contains mainly aromatic compounds in a narrow range. The range of products and product formation is also discussed in this communication. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.