Pyrolysis is a chemical recycling process of heating plastic waste without oxygen such that it breaks down the longer chain polymers into shorter chain materials. These products can then be further processed into chemicals feedstocks or fuels. Pyrolysis can be more effective than the traditional mechanical recycling process of melting as it does not degrade the quality of the final plastic and requires less intensive sorting of the initial waste.
Source: Wongkhorsub C, Chindaprasert N. A Comparison of the Use of Pyrolysis Oils in Diesel. Engine Energy and Power Engineering, 2013; (5):350-355.
N.a – Not Determined