Pyrolysis of Municipal Solid Waste Plastics to Produce Fuel Oil in Ibadan, Oyo State

Plastic waste management remains a critical environmental challenge in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria, where rapid urbanisation has outpaced waste collection infrastructure. This study investigates the pyrolysis of mixed post-consumer plastic waste, predominantly polyethylene and polypropylene, collected from the Bodija and Oje markets in Ibadan for fuel oil production. Plastics were sorted, cleaned, shredded, and subjected to batch pyrolysis in a nitrogen-purged reactor at temperatures of 400, 450, and 500 degrees Celsius with a residence time of 60 minutes at each temperature. Liquid oil yield, gas yield, and char residue were quantified gravimetrically. The produced oil was characterised for kinematic viscosity, flash point, pour point, calorific value, carbon residue, and sulphur content, and compared against Nigerian Standards Organisation specifications for petroleum products. Pyrolysis at 450 degrees Celsius yielded the maximum liquid oil output of 68.7 weight percent with a calorific value of 42.3 MJ/kg, closely matching that of commercial petroleum diesel. Kinematic viscosity at 40 degrees Celsius was 3.1 cSt, within the ASTM D975 diesel specification. Sulphur content marginally exceeded EN 590 limits but could be reduced through hydrodesulphurisation. The study demonstrates pyrolysis as a technically viable route for plastic waste valorisation in South West Nigeria. Keywords: plastic waste, pyrolysis, fuel oil, Ibadan, waste valorisation