INVESTIGATING THE POTENTIAL OF FUEL PRODUCTION FROM PLASTICS IN MALAWI

Malawi faces dual challenges of energy shortages and plastic waste pollution. This study investigated the feasibility of converting plastic waste into usable fuel via pyrolysis to simultaneously address both issues. A small-scale pyrolysis experiment was conducted using 2kg of locally collected plastic waste as feedstock. The plastic sample contained High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polystyrene (PS) and a mixture of all of them. A simple steel reactor heated to 300°C thermally decomposed the plastic into crude pyrolysis oil which was condensed and collected for analysis. Fuel properties like calorific value, viscosity, density and water content were tested for pyrolysis oils derived from HDPE, PET, PS and mixed plastics. HDPE oil had the most suitable characteristics including 43.67 MJ/kg calorific value and 1.75 cSt viscosity at 50°C. However, additional treatment is required to refine the oils to fuel grade quality. Though current limitations exist, results verify the fundamental technical viability of extracting usable oils from plastic waste using pyrolysis. With optimized systems tailored to prevalent local waste types, pyrolysis could sustainably convert Malawi's plastic waste into a domestic energy source. This would boost energy affordability and access for citizens while alleviating pollution. Realizing the potential requires supportive policies, infrastructure development, technical capacity building and research to scale up pyrolysis fuel production in Malawi. Overall, plastic-to-fuel conversion warrants serious exploration as an innovative solution offering substantial socioeconomic and environmental benefits for the country.