Can plastic bottles be turned into fuel oil by pyrolysis machine?

Many people ask whether waste plastic bottles can be recycled into fuel oil using a pyrolysis machine. While pyrolysis technology is widely used for converting certain plastics into fuel, not all plastics are suitable for this process. In particular, plastic bottles made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) are not ideal for pyrolysis recycling.

Why PET can't be turned into fuel by pyrolysis machine?

PET is difficult to convert into fuel via pyrolysis due to its unique chemical structure. Its benzene rings (stable from aromatic resonance) resist breaking into small hydrocarbons, while ester bond cleavage produces oxygen-rich byproducts like terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol fragments. These have low calorific values (often below 30 MJ/kg, far less than gasoline’s ~44 MJ/kg) and are polar, making them unsuitable as fuel. Additionally, acidic byproducts corrode equipment, and toxic aromatics like benzene pose risks. Fuel yields are low, with much material forming tar or char.

What plastics can be turned into fuel by pyrolysis machine?

In addition to plastic bottles, there are also other types of plastics that can be turned into fuel by pyrolysis machine, which have various oil yield. Pure PP/HDPE/LDPE/PS/ABS plastics, aluminum plastics, plastic bags, waste woven bags, plastic cable sheathe, etc., whose oil yield varies from 40%-89%. Of course, the purer and better quality the plastic is, the more oil you can get and the better the oil quality will be.

What's the final products and applications for plastic recycling with pyrolysis machine?

Generally, for plastic recycling with pyrolysis machine, we can main obtain two products: fuel oil and carbon black

Fuel oil: also called plastic pyrolysis oil, derived from the thermal decomposition of plastic waste, has a high calorific value, typically ranging from 9,700 to 11,000 kcal/kg. This makes it a viable alternative fuel source for various industrial applications. It can be used as energy fuel in cement plant, steel plant, glass plant, brick plant, etc., or be refined into non-standard diesel for further applications.

Carbon black: carbon black can be directly sold or made into briquettes to replace coal for industrial heating. The calorific value is equivalent to coal and charcoal, and it can be further refined to produce various rubber products. 

All in all, plastic bottles can't be turned into fuel by pyrolysis machine, but other plastic waste can. If you also have other waste to be recycled, welcome to consult Huayin, we can also provide testing in our factory to help you ensure whether your recycled waste is suitable for pyrolysis machine. For more information, just feel free to send your inquiry to us!