Comparing Indoor Air Emissions from Cookstoves Using Plastic Derived Fuel Oil with Traditional Fuels

Combating the ongoing environmental crisis caused by mismanaged plastic waste is a global challenge. This problem is especially acute in developing regions due to a lack of recycling and waste management technologies. One way communities can combat this waste management challenge is by using the process of slow pyrolysis to convert the plastic waste into a liquid cooking fuel. The plastic waste can be collected by local entrepreneurs, converted into fuel oil using a small scale pyrolysis reactor, and sold for a profit. In addition to combating the mismanaged plastic waste, using this fuel in cookstoves can also help combat the public health issue caused by breathing in smoke from a cooking fire. Open fire cooking remains a common means of cooking in the developing world, and long term exposure to smoke can lead to chronic lung and eye health problems. The burden of these health problems fall disproportionately on women. Our hypothesis is that switching from wood fire cooking to using stoves fueled by liquid fuel produced from waste plastic will have a positive impact on indoor air pollution, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. To test this hypothesis, a series of experiments was conducted. Particulate emissions (PM10 and PM 2.5) for the plastic derived fuel oil, traditional kerosene, and fire wood were measured using a Temtop M2000C Air Quality Monitor. Carbon monoxide was measured using a multigas detector. Cookstoves similar to those used in households in developing countries were used when conducting experiments. The results of these experiments indicated that Plastic Derived Fuel Oil is a cleaner alternative to kerosene and fire wood for household cooking. If implemented globally, the results of this research suggest that converting plastic waste into cooking fuel can not only reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the ecosystem, but can also combat the global public health problems caused by open fire cooking.