Pyrolysis and Gasification Technologies for Plastic Waste: Technical and Economic Aspects

Plastic waste has become a major environmental, industrial and economic challenge. With more than 12 million tonnes entering the oceans each year, a figure which is rising rapidly, the resulting damage to marine ecosystems is estimated at up to USD 2,500 billion annually — equivalent to over 3% of global GDP.

This has led to increased regulatory pressure worldwide, with industries and public authorities actively seeking scalable solutions for treating mixed and contaminated plastics.

In this context, pyrolysis and gasification technologies are emerging as key solutions for converting mixed or contaminated plastics into fuels, electricity, heat, hydrogen-rich syngas, and chemical feedstocks.

This advanced professional course provides a comprehensive and critical overview of state-of-the-art plastic pyrolysis and gasification systems from pilot plants to near-commercial deployments.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the physical and chemical principles of pyrolysis and gasification applied to plastics, including product distributions (gas, oil, char) and technological limitations.
• Compare medium- and high-temperature pyrolysis systems, evaluating their operational performance through mass and energy balances.
• Identify which plastic streams are suitable for which conversion pathways.
• Analyse process efficiencies, integration options and scale-up challenges.
• Define the key parameters that govern the economic feasibility of a project, including CAPEX, OPEX, revenues and risk factors.

The course combines expert lectures with practical engineering case studies. Key topics include:

• Plastic waste characteristics and impacts, including composition, additives, degradation behaviour, toxicity issues and impacts on ecosystems, food chains and human health.
• Comparison of recycling and energy-recovery routes, including mechanical recycling, incineration, gasification and hybrid schemes.
• Plastic pyrolysis technologies – batch, semi-continuous and continuous systems; medium-temperature (400–500 °C) and high-temperature (700–800 °C) processes; catalytic approaches.
• Gasification of plastics and mixed wastes – reactor concepts, syngas utilisation and process flexibility.
• Pilot and demonstration plants – performance data, operational feedback and lessons learned.

Hands-on Case Studies

Participants will work on real industrial examples, including:

• Mass and energy balance simulations using professional process-analysis Stan2web software.
• The economic feasibility of a demonstration plant using Retscreen Expert Clean Energy Management Software.

These sessions focus on decision-making in realistic project contexts, not just theory.

• Engineers and technical managers
• R&D specialists
• Project developers and EPC teams
• Consultants and technology evaluators
• Energy and waste-management professionals
• Economists and policy advisors
• University lecturers and trainers
• Anyone involved in plastic-waste valorisation projects

• A highly interactive format combining:
  • Expert lectures with industrial examples and videos
  • Q&A and open technical discussions
  • Short exercises with guided solutions
  • Live demonstrations of professional software tools
  • Case-study-driven learning

  Each participant will receive a 60-day license key to RETScreen Expert – Professional mode