In the European Union alone, more than 27.5 million tons (27 million tonnes) of post-consumer waste plastic is produced each year. Of this, only 26 percent is recycled. The balance is nearly divided, with 36 percent going for incineration while the remaining 38 percent contributes to the expanding landfill problem.

In addition to the loss of its material value, the carbon cost of processing this mixed waste is considerable. To help address this global issue, the United Kingdom’s Recycling Technologies developed its RT7000, a system to convert residual plastic waste into a low sulphur hydrocarbon compound known as Plaxx. The hydrocarbon compound can be used as a petrochemical feedstock, as a manufacturing commodity such as paraffin wax, or as a fuel substitute for fossil-based heavy fuel oil (HFO).

To optimize the process further, Recycling Technologies has teamed up with Ricardo to characterize the use of this recycled, low sulphur fuel as a substitute for HFO and diesel in applications such as power generation and marine propulsion.

During the project, a review of the properties of Plaxx as a combustion engine fuel will be carried out.