I am concerned with the emissions of these briquettes and how environmentally friendly it is to use plastic polymers as an energy resource. I will consider different types of polymers viz, low and high density polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate) (PET).
It is not safe to use plastics for manufacture of briquettes. Usage of any plastic containing chlorine leads to generation of toxins such as dioxin upon combustion. In fact one can manufacture excellent briquettes without binders!
Hello Sridhar, thank you for your interest in my question. It's been quite some time that I gave up this project due to lack of fund, and currently working on other projects. But still I remember few things, on your concern over emission of dioxin, I would like to clarify that I want to use the pure form of polymers, i.e. Polyethylenes, polypropylenes, etc., not PVC or chlorinated polymers. Dioxin is produced mostly by chlorinated polymers and at very small amounts it is produced even in fuelwood combustion when there is less oxygen.
Use of polymers in biobriquettes can drastically increase the efficiency of the briquettes. I wanted to increase the efficiency of the briquettes so that they can be used in boilers in industries.
Vijay:
I agree that plastics without Cl seem fairly safe and they burned efficiently and cleanly in our tests pubished open access here: http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/14/22163/2014/acpd-14-22163-2014.html
Best wishes to find good clean energy solutions for Nepal! Bob
I think the use as additive of polyethylenes, polypropylenes, etc., not PVC or chlorinated polymers in boilers in industries is a good and relevant technological decision.
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