Gasification of waste rigid polyurethane foam: optimizing operational conditions

The influence of temperature and catalyst type on production of combustible gas during the air gasification of waste rigid polyurethane foam has been researched in a bench-scale plant. The results indicated that among ten selected catalysts, sodium hydroxide had the most positive effect on the yield of combustible gas. An orthogonal array experimental design based on four levels L₁₆ (4³) of three parameters was employed to optimize the gasification conditions. The results showed that the relative effectiveness of the parameters was ranked as: temperature > catalyst supplied > air gas flow rate. Subsequently, a series of process optimization experiments were conducted and the optimum operating conditions are found as follows: temperature was 1100 °C, catalyst supplied was 12.5 wt% of the raw material, and the air flow rate was 120 L/h.