The effect of plastic addition on coal caking properties during carbonization

The recycling process of waste plastics using coke ovens is now being studied. The effect of plastic addition on coal caking property was investigated. It was revealed that thermal decomposition products of plastics interacted with bituminous coal during carbonization in coke ovens. The effect of plastic addition on coal caking property varied with types of plastics. The addition of aliphatic polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) had only a small effect on coal caking property and coke strength and in some cases PE addition increased coke strength. On the other hand, the addition of polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and terephtalic acid (TFA) inhibited coal expansion and fusion, decreased maximum fluidity and total dilatation, and deteriorated the coke strength. These differences were discussed from the viewpoint of the interaction between thermal decomposition products of plastics and hydrogen in coal. It was suggested that the radical formed as a result of PS or PET thermal decomposition abstracted hydrogen from coal, which resulted in the decrease in coal caking property.