You create plastic oil waste through a process called pyrolysis, where plastic is heated to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen.
Here's a breakdown of how the process works:
- The Process: Pyrolysis Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated temperatures in an inert atmosphere. This means the plastic is heated without the presence of oxygen to prevent combustion.
- Heating the Plastic: Plastic waste is heated to temperatures exceeding 400°C (752°F).
- Cracking Long-Chain Molecules: At these high temperatures, the long-chain hydrocarbon molecules that make up the plastic break down ("crack") into shorter chains.
- Synthetic Crude Oil Production: This cracking process yields a mixture of hydrocarbons, which can be condensed into a liquid resembling crude oil, often referred to as synthetic crude oil or plastic oil. This oil can then be further refined into fuels and other valuable products.
In essence, pyrolysis transforms solid plastic waste into a liquid form (oil) through intense heat and the absence of oxygen. While this oil can be considered valuable, it is also "waste" in the context that it is derived from waste plastic and often requires further processing or refining to become usable.
