Downcycling of one-time used plastic waste to DICI engine combustion energy through pyrolysis with less NOx emission.

Plastic waste elimination is more important for environmental pollution. Alternate fuel is essential for future IC engine applications because of fossil fuel availability. This study focuses on both challenges by creating combustion energy for direct injection CI engines from the wastes with lesser NOx emissions. Plastic wastes of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) have the most negligible recycling value based on their collection point of view from municipal wastes. Conversion of this LDPE plastic waste into alternate fuel for CI engines by pyrolysis will provide value for that waste. The combustion, emission, and performance of neat pyrolyzed oil of LDPE plastic wastes (POLPW) were studied with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR; 0%, 10%, and 20%) in a 1500 rpm 5.2 kW engine on different loads. 20% of EGR used POLPW fuel produced 31.63% of brake thermal efficiency and 62.28% reduction in NOx (596 ppm) than diesel at maximum load. Pyrolyzed oil of low-density polyethylene plastic wastes can be utilized as a 100% substitute fuel in CI engines with an EGR of 20%. This will provide alternate fuel and low-value plastic waste downcycling, initiating environmental pollution reduction. [Display omitted] • Using one time used plastic waste to generate combustion energy for engine. • Downcycling of low-density polyethylene environment waste by pyrolysis with 80% yield. • Neat pyrolyzed LDPE oil usage is possible with all loads in the engine. • Neat oil with 20% exhaust recirculation have 31.36% brake thermal efficiency. • Compared to diesel, 62.82% of NOx emissions were reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]