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Microwave-Assisted Plastic Upcycling: Dynamic Data Reconciliation, Parameter Estimation, and Kinetic Modeling
Harish Damahe1, Md Emdadul Haque1, Chunlin Luo1
1Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, United States.
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
|July 28, 2026
Summary
This study presents a model for microwave-assisted plastic pyrolysis, optimizing ethylene production. The model accurately predicts product yields and rates, aiding plastic upcycling technology development.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Plastic waste management is a global challenge.
- Pyrolysis offers a route for plastic upcycling.
- Microwave-assisted pyrolysis enhances efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop an integrated model for microwave-assisted LDPE pyrolysis.
- Accurately predict time-varying product formation.
- Optimize ethylene production for plastic upcycling.
Main Methods:
- Integrated modeling framework: dynamic data reconciliation, temperature-dependent rate model, yield model.
- Developed an Arrhenius-type rate model with temperature-dependent reaction order.
- Proposed a biexponential correlation for gaseous product yield.
Main Results:
- Model accurately represents experimental data for ethylene, ethane, 1-butene, and benzene (250-350 °C).
- Ethylene yield decreases from 41.95% (250 °C) to 30.14% (350 °C).
- Optimal ethylene production rate achieved around 270 °C.
Conclusions:
- The developed model accurately captures product evolution in MW-assisted LDPE pyrolysis.
- Model provides insights for process optimization and reactor design.
- Facilitates scale-up of microwave-assisted plastic conversion technologies.
