Pyrolysis of low density polyethene waste for pyrolytic oil production.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
The increasing accumulation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) wastes such as water sachets and grocery bags presents environmental challenges while also representing a potential source of recoverable hydrocarbon energy. This study investigated the bench-scale pyrolysis of LDPE wastes from white water sachets and black grocery bags for pyrolytic oil production. The study examined the effects of temperature at 175, 200, 225 and 250°C, compared the two feedstock sources at the optimum temperature, and characterized the resulting oils based on density, viscosity, apparent pH and calorific value. A laboratory experimental design was used. Equal portions (20 g) of each LDPE feedstock were subjected to controlled thermal treatment and the condensed liquid products were collected. The 250°C results reported from the experiment were 7.64 g of oil from black grocery-bag LDPE and 4.52 g from white water-sachet LDPE, corresponding to oil yields of 38.2% and 22.6%, respectively. The results showed increasing oil yield with increasing temperature, with 250°C giving the highest liquid recovery in the investigated range. At 250°C, the black grocery-bag feedstock produced 69.03% more oil by mass than the white water-sachet feedstock. Illustrative physicochemical values at the optimum temperature were 0.79 and 0.81 g/mL density, 2.10 and 2.40 mm²/s viscosity, apparent pH values of 6.70 and 6.40, and calorific values of 40.30 and 39.70 MJ/kg for black and white LDPE oils, respectively. The study demonstrated the potential of LDPE waste valorization through pyrolysis.
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Undergraduate research report
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Citation
Mbwaali, J. (2026). Pyrolysis of low density polyethene waste for pyrolytic oil production. [Unpublished undergraduate research report]. Busitema University.