The comparative analysis of the efficiency of pyrolysis of oil refinery waste: traditional, catalytic, and plasma technologies

Abstract The aim is to compare the efficiency of various pyrolysis systems, including traditional pyrolysis, catalytic pyrolysis, and plasma pyrolysis. The pyrolysis technology was improved in several ways, particularly through the introduction of plasma pyrolysis, which significantly increased efficiency to 82 %, compared to traditional methods, where the efficiency was 50–55 %. This enhancement was achieved due to the high efficiency of gaseous products, which accounted for up to 70 % of the total output in plasma pyrolysis, compared to 60 % in traditional pyrolysis. Additionally, the use of SiO 2 as a catalyst played a key role in improving the process, reducing the volume of solid and liquid residues by 20–30 %. It has been established that the optimal conditions for pyrolysis vary depending on the method employed. Traditional pyrolysis is effective at 500 °C with a process duration of up to 60 min; however, it exhibits lower environmental efficiency, generating a higher amount of contaminant by-products and producing greater CO 2 emissions per unit of gas obtained. Catalytic pyrolysis using SiO 2 operates at 550 °C with a shorter residence time (20–40 min), resulting in reduced formation of solid residues and increased gas yields. Plasma pyrolysis achieves the most favorable outcomes at 600 °C under low-pressure conditions, offering a high yield of hydrogen and carbon monoxide while minimizing the emission of harmful gases.