DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2663-4619/118/133-137
Irada Garayeva
Sumgayit State University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8014-7090
iradegarayeva71@gmail.com
Mahal Muradov
Sumgayit State University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3026-386X
mailoglu@mail.ru
Mushkunaz Nazarova
Sumgayit State University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4096-9858
musgunaznazarova@mail.ru
Shabnam Garayeva
Sumgayit State University
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8312-9587
shabnam-1983@mail.ru
Thermal Utilization of Waste Polystyrene
Abstract
Every year, more than 300 million tons of plastic are produced, which is used to create various types of plastic products. It is known that waste plastic products pollute the environment, and only 9-10% of them are mechanically recycled. It can be noted that this indicator is low in terms of environmental sustainability. The rest is either burned or left in nature – in the seas, forests, and soil. Thus, we can say that plastic materials have become an inseparable part of our lives – from packaging to textiles, electronics, and medical tools, we encounter them everywhere. It is also worth noting that as plastic waste accumulates, the interest in chemical recycling increases, allowing not only the reuse of the material but also its return to its original molecular form. One such product is polystyrene. Polystyrene, a thermoplastic polymer, is suitable for depolymerization under certain conditions.
From an environmental sustainability perspective, recycling this waste is crucial.
The conversion of styrene into monomer during depolymerization of polystyrene allows it to be reused as a raw material. This article investigates the methods of transforming polystyrene into styrene, focusing mainly on the thermal depolymerization process. It explains the mechanism, conditions, and practical significance of this process.
Recycling of polystyrene is extremely important both ecologically and economically.
Keywords: polystyrene, styrene, temperature, plastic waste, depolymerization