How to turn plastic waste into diesel fuel cheaply

[jonathan]

reflux column

ok thanks l will try that size of reflux so if l heat 176 degress and l put 10 kilo of plastic can they change all to gasoline

[imakebiodiesel]

Thats the theory but you will find that without a very efficient catalyst almost no fuel will crack sufficiently to make it past the reflux column head. Better to try a higher reflux temperature, say 260, to begin with.

[jonathan]

reflux column

thanks my friend l make more work today l am making retort and reflux column in an oil barrel to heat them 410 degrees

[sayshap]

Has anyone cracked ABS in substantial quantity?
The fuel I get is highly flammable (higher than Kerosene and diesel) and will easily catch fire by just passing a lighted matchstick on top!!!
The only problem I have is the color of the fuel plus the odour.
Its smells unpleasantly strong and the color is dark-violet, actually black when viewed in a room without additional direct light.
How can I make the fuel look lighter and brighter and to reduce the smell?

[jonathan]

retort heating

hello for first try l was going to biuld the retort and reflux in an oil barrel and heat every think in the range 385 to 410 degrees is that good? l was going to make the reflux pipe not on top but in the side and go to first condenser l was going to heat first condenser about 350 degrees is this good? thanks

[imakebiodiesel]

Im not sure if you have got a handle on the process. Heating the retort and the reflux to the same temperature means that in effect you will have no reflux column. If the retort/ reflux temp is 385C then a condenser heated to 350C will only collect fuel with a BP between 350 and 385C, in other words very little.
For a start try these temps. 400 in the retort, 320 in the reflux column, 260 in the first condenser, 180 in the second and cold in the third. Please reread the safety suggestions I posted on the previous page before starting. Make sure you have some sort of pressure relief mechanism and dont leave it unattended at any time. At the first sign of a wax blockage shut it down.

[jonathan]

retort heating

ok thanks my friend l try that tempretures and thanks for safety ok l hope l finished my work soon l am making my own oil burner l was going to control tempreture of 400 deegres for retort and leave fire always runing and put gas after bubbler to retort fire

[jonathan]

retort temps

lmakebiodiesel so for quick try l wish to start simple just retort reflux and put all fuel in one condenser l think l can do that if yes what tempretures l need ? thanks because l see machines on web just pipe that goes to water

[imakebiodiesel]

If you are using only one condenser then keep it as cool as you can to collect as much fuel as possible. Air cooled is good , water cooled is better. The very simple designs that just pass the gas directly into a water bubbler are dangerous for reasons I have explained previously. Better to have a condenser. If you have a look on my website you will see pictures of my small reactor which has a single condenser.
polydiesel

[jonathan]

retort heating

l ask you can l make retort reflux and condensor then bubbler just for try like this picture but l condensor for now if yes what temps l want for retort reflux and condensor

[imakebiodiesel]

The reflux and retort temperatures do not change and the single condenser should be kept as cool as possible. As I mentioned before without a catalyst you will most likely produce a lot of heavy wax so be on the look out for wax blockages and shut down if you find that happening.

[jonathan]

retort temps

ok my friend l understand everything about retort reflux and condensors l have a doubt in catalyst what u mean l think l want to put something in reflux like stanless steel wool if yes l want to fill all the reflux column or just small layer

[Beyond Biodiesel]

ok my friend l understand everything about retort reflux and condensors l have a doubt in catalyst what u mean l think l want to put something in reflux like stanless steel wool if yes l want to fill all the reflux column or just small layer

You basically want to fill the refluxing zone with a porous, but thermally conductive material. Steel wool is common, or stainless steel wool, or even copper or aluminum shavings. Here are photos of some of my condenser traps, and retort packing.
retort packing is aluminum chips

The lid also has aluminum screen over it

The first trap has copper choir-boys in it for reflux packing

My 25c water condenser is packed with aluminum screening that is rolled up and stuffed inside

[Beyond Biodiesel]

jonathan, your diagram above looks pretty good, but you will want to make sure all of your condensers are packed with something, to slow down the flow of vapor and give it some surface area to condense upon, as discussed in my previous message.

It is also easier to have multiple traps, than to try and trap all of the condensate into one trap.

Depending upon what fractions you are interested in, there are significant fractions that can be trapped with ice, or a refrigerator. See my ice trap below:

[jonathan]

condensors packing

thanks my friend its new for me l was going to fill reflux so l want to fill reflux all condensors and what about retort ? just plastics and wmo only?