Pyrolysis provides a sustainable solution for managing post-consumer mixed plastic waste (PC-MPW) streams by producing valuable mixtures of liquids and gases, which have potential for use as fuels. Compared with landfilling, gasification and incineration processes, pyrolysis has the smallest environmental footprint. Waxes produced as an intermediate product of controlled pyrolysis conditions have been used as viscosity-reducing additives in modified asphalts, which reduce energy requirements for heating and mixing on site. The chars produced from PC-MPW pyrolysis have been used to produce activated carbon (adsorbents), additives in epoxy resins and fuel briquettes. These chars have proven to increase the conductivity, thermal stability and non-flammability of epoxy resin composites. Furthermore, the chars also have potential as additives in concretes to reduce the carbon footprint associated with Portland cement production. Albeit PC-MPW-chars have not been used in civil engineering applications to date, chars derived from other organic sources (e.g. wood) have been successfully used in cement admixtures and demonstrated their atmospheric carbon sequestration and strength gaining capabilities. The material properties of the chars that are responsible for producing such promising performances include high porosity (which enables water absorption and retention capacities), high surface area and reactivity (particularly for chars produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures) for promoting the formation of cementitious gels. Furthermore, pulverised chars act as a “micro-filler” within cementitious materials, whereby they fill pore spaces and increase material strength and stiffness. This study highlights the promise of PC-MPW chars as a low carbon additive for use in cement-based construction materials.

热解通过生产有价值的液体和气体混合物（具有用作燃料的潜力），为管理消费后混合塑料废物 (PC-MPW) 流提供了可持续的解决方案。与填埋、气化和焚烧过程相比，热解具有最小的环境足迹。作为受控热解条件的中间产品生产的蜡已被用作改性沥青中的降粘添加剂，从而降低了现场加热和混合的能量需求。PC-MPW 热解产生的焦炭已用于生产活性炭（吸附剂）、环氧树脂添加剂和燃料煤球。事实证明，这些炭可以提高环氧树脂复合材料的导电性、热稳定性和不易燃性。此外，这些炭还具有作为混凝土添加剂的潜力，可以减少与波特兰水泥生产相关的碳足迹。尽管 PC-MPW 炭迄今尚未用于土木工程应用，但源自其他有机来源（例如木材）的炭已成功用于水泥外加剂中，并展示了它们在大气中固碳和强度增加的能力。导致产生如此有前景的性能的炭的材料特性包括高孔隙率（它具有吸水和保水能力）、高表面积和反应性（特别是对于在较高热解温度下产生的炭），以促进胶凝凝胶的形成。此外，粉状炭在胶结材料中充当“微填料”，从而它们填充孔隙空间并增加材料强度和刚度。该研究强调了 PC-MPW 炭作为用于水泥基建筑材料的低碳添加剂的前景。