Technology Unit

The primary cracking reactor is capable of receiving at least one plastic material and perform anaerobic thermal cracking (pyrolysis) to produce a carbon distribution of alkanes and olefins in a C₁-C₃₀ carbon range, hydrogen, solid carbon particles (char), naphthenes (cyclic alkanes), aromatic and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons. The primary cracking reaction produces non-condensable gases - mainly alkanes with carbon number of 1 to 6. The primary catalytic reaction is preferably performed without catalysts and the residence time is preferably 30 to 60 min and the reaction temperature is preferable between 380°C and 460°C. The reactor may contain silico-aluminates to reduce the optimal reaction temperature, and minerals such as CaO to capture Cl and S, which are consumed in the process, and the resulting reaction products are discharged with the char fraction.