Effect of some environmentally degradable materials on the pyrolysis of plastics II: influence of cellulose and lignin on the pyrolysis of complex mixtures

Pyrolysis of polymer mixtures with a composition similar to that of municipal plastic waste containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and of municipal plastic waste free of PVC was performed in the presence of components of biomass, namely lignin, cellulose, or both. The pyrolysis products were characterized by standard methods utilized in the petrochemical industry, i.e., paraffins-isoparaffinsolefins-naphthenes-aromatics analysis, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Up to 3 wt% lignin, cellulose, or both in mixed polymers changed the material balance of pyrolysis by decreasing the amount of waxy products. The presence of both PVC and biomass components significantly changed the material balance by decreasing the waxy product yield and increasing the gas and coke yield. The composition of all pyrolysis products was also modified with the addition of PVC, components of biomass, or both.