Development Of A Continuous Dual-Stage Purification System For Pyrolysis Exhaust Gas

Abstract

Plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental problems in Indonesia due to its non-biodegradable nature. Pyrolysis is a promising method to convert plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, char, and exhaust gas. However, pyrolysis exhaust gas contains high levels of CO₂ and H₂S, which reduce its calorific value and pose safety risks. This study aims to design and develop a continuous absorber–adsorber purification system for pyrolysis exhaust gas. The absorber employed NaOH solution, while the adsorbers consisted of steel wool, zeolite, activated carbon, and silica gel. The results showed that the continuous purification system increased CH₄ concentration from 50% to 89%, reduced CO₂ from 50% to 17%, and decreased H₂S from 50% to 19%. This improvement in gas quality makes pyrolysis exhaust gas suitable for reuse as an alternative fuel or LPG substitute in the pyrolysis process. Therefore, the purification system proved to be effective, economical, and has strong potential for application in industrial-scale plastic waste management.