RMUTT together with National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) transform plastic waste and engine oil to ‘diesel’

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prasert Pinprathomtharat, Rector of Rajamangala University of Technology (RMUTT), Pathum Thani, revealed that faculty professor has created a ‘pyrolysis prototype machine’ to successfully replace plastic waste and used engine oil as fuel.  The fuel has a quality equivalent to diesel oil without the need for distillation with qualification passed the standards as specified by the Department of Energy Ministry of Energy.  This research is a success that extends its implication from the laboratory level to the prototype of factory level, which is another alternative to reduce the amount of waste and also get quality fuel that is equivalent to diesel without the need for additional distillation.  In addition, this work is now in the process of applying for intellectual property protection.

Asst. Prof. Nattacha Phetyim, Lecturer of Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thanyaburi University, the owner of the work, revealed that at present, Thailand has about 2 million tons of plastic waste produced per year and is likely to increase continuously. However, on the average about 0.5 million tons of plastic waste has been made use of per year.  While the remaining 1.5 million tons are still difficult to dispose due to the slowness of decay when using landfill method, and combustion will affect the environment in the case of Incineration. While used engine oils from motor vehicles are also a problem, as seen from the increasing number of motor vehicles every year, only 20 – 30 percent that has been disposed correctly.  Therefore, the research and development the prototype of Pyrolysis process between used motor oil and mixed plastic waste has been conducted to produce fuel equivalent to diesel.

Reference : www.eng.rmutt.ac.th/engine-oil-to-diesel