Abstract

Kitchen waste (KW) and plastic waste pose significant environmental challenges due to their increasing generation and non-biodegradability. Pyrolysis, a thermochemical process conducted in an inert atmosphere, offers a sustainable solution by converting these wastes into valuable products like bio-oil, syngas, and char. This mini review comprehensively analyzes the pyrolysis of plastics in KW, covering fundamental principles, characteristics, kinetic mechanisms, synergistic effects, catalytic applications, and product distributions. Key findings indicate that co-pyrolysis of KW with plastics (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene) enhances efficiency through synergistic interactions, reducing activation energies by 15- 40kJ/mol and increasing bio-oil yields up to 66%. Catalysts such as zeolites and natural materials (e.g., seashells) further improve product selectivity by promoting deoxygenation and cracking. Challenges include waste heterogeneity and economic viability, but advancements in microwave-assisted pyrolysis and integrated systems show promise for scalability. This review highlights the potential of pyrolysis to contribute to circular economy goals by transforming waste into renewable energy sources. Future research should focus on process optimization and life-cycle assessments.

Keywords: Pyrolysis; Kitchen waste; Plastics; Co-pyrolysis; Kinetics; Catalysis; Synergistic effects; Bio-oil

Abbreviations: KW: Kitchen Waste; PE: Polyethylene; PP: Polypropylene; PS: Polystyrene; TGA: Thermogravimetric Analysis; Ea: Activation Energy; MSW: Municipal Solid Waste; ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene