SBIR Phase I:Liquid Diesel Fuel From Selected Waste Plastics

This SBIR Phase I project will ascertain the parameters for three of the most common waste plastics (namely, polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP)), and determine the solubility and stability characteristics of the resulting reaction products in commercial grade liquid diesel fuel. Waste plastics are a perceived societal problem; however, waste plastics comprise various hydrocarbon chains the fundamental components of which are valuable chemicals suitable for diesel engine combustion. Supercritical water (SCW) has recently been shown to be an effective solvent and reagent for the depolymerization of various polymers. The broader/commercial impact of the proposed project will be to remove waste plastics from landfills and utilize them to produce a consumable fuel.