| 20110124932 | METHOD FOR CONVERTING WASTE PLASTIC TO LOWER-MOLECULAR WEIGHT HYDROCARBONS, PARTICULARLY HYDROCARBON FUEL MATERIALS, AND THE HYDROCARBON MATERIAL PRODUCED THEREBY - A method produces a hydrocarbonaceous fluid (a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, or in other words a mixture of hydrocarbons which is liquid at ambient room temperature and atmospheric pressure), which functionally is a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, from a feed of waste plastic. The method comprises in broad embodiments the steps of: (step 1) melting a feed of substantially solid waste plastic in an aerobic atmosphere (for instance, air) whereby a waste-plastic melt is produced; (step 2) distilling at least a portion of the waste-plastic melt whereby a hydrocarbonaceous distillate is produced; and (step 3) collecting the hydrocarbonaceous distillate. That distillate is generally referred to above as a condensate. In some preferred embodiments, the method includes the step of commutating the feed of substantially solid waste plastic into pieces substantially no greater than about 1.5 cm | 05-26-2011 |
