Co-Pyrolysis of PCB with Cotton Stalk: Product Characterisation

Abstract With advancing technology, PCB (Printed circuit board), one of the most important components of e-waste, has become a source of pollution due to an ineffective waste management system. This problem can be solved by converting PCB waste into a valuable product which will emerge to maximize the renewable energy supplies. In this aspect, co-pyrolysis is advantageous in both simple and successful in producing high-quality pyrolysis oil. In this paper, cotton stalk (CS) as biomass was used for co-pyrolysis with PCB. Slow pyrolysis of PCB, CS, and co-pyrolysis of PCB:CS (1:1) have been carried out for temperatures up to 500 \(℃\) in a fixed-bed reactor. The products of pyrolysis: oil was analysed by GC-MS and FTIR and gas had been analysed by GC. The results indicate that there is an increase in oil yield from 19.6% to 27.5 % by weight and phenol and phenolic compounds in oil of co-pyrolysis from 60.94–76.82% than literature available. As per authors knowledge co-pyrolysis of PCB:CS has been attempted first time and the products characterisation were found completely different than any other biomass co-pyrolysis with PCB.