Chemical recycling of polystyrene by pyrolysis: Potential use of the liquid product for the reproduction of polymer

The potential use of the liquid product obtained from the pyrolysis of polystyrene as a raw material for the reproduction of the polymer was investigated in this study. Catalytic and non-catalytic pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a fixed bed reactor using either model polymer or commercial waste products as the feedstock. The liquid fraction produced from all the pyrolysis experiments consisted mainly of the styrene monomer and this was subjected to repolymerization without any further purification, in a DSC with AIBN initiator. It was found that the pyrolysis oil fraction could be re-polymerized to again produce polymer. However, aromatic compounds included in this fraction may act as chain transfer agents, resulting in alterations in the shape of the reaction rate curve and lowering significantly the average molecular weight and the T-g of the polymer produced.