SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR CONVERTING PLASTICS TO PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

1 . A system for processing plastics into one or more petroleum products, the system comprising:

a) a reactor for subjecting the plastics to pyrolysis and cracking hydrocarbons in the plastics to produce a plastics vapour comprising hydrocarbon substituents;

b) one or more separation vessels for separating the plastics vapour into hydrocarbon substituents based on boiling points of the hydrocarbon substituents;

c) one or more condensers for condensing the hydrocarbon substituents into one or more petroleum products; and

d) means for collecting the one or more petroleum products.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a premelt reactor for melting the plastics prior to pyrolysis in the reactor.

3 . The system of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pyrolysis of the plastics is at a temperature of 340 to 445° C., 350 to 425° C., or 400° C.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the melting of the plastics is at a temperature of 250° C. to 340 C.

5 . The system of any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the petroleum products are diesel, gasoline, furnace fuel, kerosene, propane, butane, ethane or methane.

6 . The system of any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the separation of the plastics vapour in the separation vessel is at about 240° C. to about 300° C.

7 . The system of any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the separation vessel comprises a catalyst.

8 . A system for processing plastics into one or more petroleum products, the system comprising:

a) conveyor means for receiving the plastics;

b) a premelt reactor for melting the plastics to produce a liquid plastic material;

c) a reactor for subjecting the liquid plastic material to pyrolysis and cracking hydrocarbons in the plastics to produce a plastics vapour comprising hydrocarbon substituents;

d) a cyclone for removing solid and liquid residue from the reactor;

e) one or more separation vessels for separating the plastics vapour into liquid petroleum products and gaseous petroleum products based on boiling points thereof;

f) one or more receptacles in communication with the one or more separation vessels for collecting the liquid petroleum products separated from the gaseous petroleum products;

g) one or more condensers for condensing at least a portion of the gaseous petroleum products;

h) one or more receptacles for collecting the condensed portion of the gaseous petroleum products; and

i) a water seal for collecting a remaining portion of the gaseous petroleum products use as a fuel in heating the reactor or the premelt reactor.

9 . A process for processing plastics into one or more petroleum products, the process comprising:

providing plastics to a pyrolysis reactor;

subjecting the plastics to pyrolysis and cracking to produce a plastics vapour, plastics liquids and plastics solids comprising hydrocarbon substituents;

separating the plastics vapour in a separation vessel to form a first liquid petroleum product from a gaseous petroleum product; and

condensing the gaseous petroleum product into a second liquid petroleum product.

10 . The process of claim 9 , further comprising melting the plastics in a premelting reactor prior to pyrolysis.

11 . The process of claim 9 or 10 , further comprising refluxing the plastics liquids and plastics solids in the pyrolysis reactor for further pyrolysis and cracking.

12 . The process of any one of claims 9 to 11 , wherein the pyrolysis of the plastics is at a temperature of 340 to 445° C., 350 to 425° C., or 400° C.

13 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the melting of the plastics is at a temperature of 250° C.

14 . The process of any one of claims 9 to 13 , wherein the petroleum products are diesel, gasoline, furnace fuel, kerosene, propane, butane, ethane or methane.

15 . The process of any one of claims 9 to 14 , wherein the separation of the plastics vapour in the separation vessel is at about 240° C. to about 300° C.