Plastic Derived Fuel Oil (PDFO) Vs Conventional Diesel: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis in a Developing Country Context

Due to depleting fossil fuel sources, Plastic Derived Fuel Oil (PDFO) has gained so much attention over the past decade as an alternative to Conventional fossil diesel. Although several researchers have reported the properties of PDFO and recommended its usage in diesel engines, no study has done a detailed qualitative and quantitative comparison with conventional diesel. This study aims to qualitatively and quantitatively assess PDFO produced from pyrolysis of waste plastic based on standard recommended tests for a diesel in a developing country. Waste polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE), Polypropylene (PP) and Polystyrene (PS) were pyrolyzed independently in a 3T UKATS processor designed and fabricated for developing countries to produce PDFO. The produced PDFO and conventional diesel (bought from a gas station) were analyzed for distillation test, density, flash point, marker concentration, copper strip corrosion, energy content, and viscosity, and then compared with the standards. The energy recovery potential of PDFO was computed based on the Non-Recyclable Plastic (NRP) collected and dumped at the landfill whereas for conventional diesel, it was based on the production data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Results of the qualitative analysis indicate that PDFO is a potential substitute for conventional diesel and can be used as a stand-alone fuel or as a blend. The energy recovery calculations reveal that Uganda produces waste plastic that can be converted into energy enough to serve the entire population of Kampala city.