Review: Opportunities for simultaneous energy/materials conversion of carbon dioxide and plastics in metallurgical processes

This study discusses simultaneous conversion and utilization of carbon dioxide and plastics into useful fuels/chemicals in high temperature metallurgical processing such as iron and steel processing and other high carbon footprint reactions. Accompanying benefits include, reduced greenhouse gas effects, effective and clean energy resources, less dependence on non-renewables, and sustainable pollution and plastic waste management practices. Use of waste plastics in iron and steel industry, reduces similar to 30% of CO2 emissions compared to using fossil carbon sources. Dry reforming or Carbon dioxide reformation with the CH4 generated from the waste plastics used in high temperature processes produce fuel gases and redudng gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide used in iron and steel processing. Similarly, in a high carbon footprint process such as magnesia production from thermal decomposition of magnesite, plastics reduces up to 99% of the stoichiometric CO2 released in the reaction which is converted to energy and combustible gases including hydrogen. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.