Sustainable management of medical plastic waste through carbon dioxide-assisted pyrolysis.

To address the challenges associated with medical plastic waste and to characterize its heterogeneity, non-recyclability, and potential biohazard risks, this study explored a carbon dioxide (CO)-assisted pyrolysis process as a sustainable disposal method. Medical plastic waste typically includes polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. To experimentally evaluate the functional reactivity of CO, we employed three pyrolysis setups (one-stage, two-stage, and catalytic processes). The technical advantages of using CO over inert gases such as nitrogen (N) were demonstrated through pyrolysis tests. The results showed that energy production was enhanced under CO conditions, with catalytic pyrolysis generating 146% more flammable gases compared to pyrolysis in an N environment. The use of CO also led to a reduction in the formation of toxic chemicals due to improved thermal cracking. The CO-assisted pyrolysis process exhibited net negative CO emissions when a catalyst was present, as a substantial amount of CO was consumed during the process. In conclusion, CO-assisted pyrolysis of medical plastic waste offers a sustainable management solution that maximizes the utilization of carbon resources.