VATIS UPDATE Article

A new research led by associate professor Farid Dailami, at Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), the United Kingdom, in partnership with Recycling Technologies, the United Kingdom, developers of ‘Plaxx’, will determine if Plaxx, made from residual mixed plastic waste, can be used efficiently in diesel engines which currently use HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil), without increasing engine wear. These engines are in marine vessels such as tankers, ferries, as well as other nautical machinery. The research will be funded by Innovate UK and ESPRC.

The waste source is the plastic entering the commercial, industrial and municipal waste streams that is mixed, laminated, contaminated and otherwise not processable by conventional plastics recycling techniques. Plaxx is the product of the polymerization of plastic and is made up of a mixture of hydrocarbon monomers similar to crude oil. It is reportedly very low in sulphur and other organic and inorganic contaminants. Currently it is a soft wax at room temperature but a low viscosity liquid at 70°C. The researchers say that it can be further refined and could be used as an input to plastics manufacturing.

The research will develop the use of Plaxx by testing engine performance, exhaust emissions and engine wear on different engines over a broad range of test conditions. The research will also develop software tools that will monitor these three aspects to enable engine users to achieve optimum performance from Plaxx. “This new fuel could have huge environmental benefits as an alternative to HFO currently used in marine diesel engines and industrial engines,” said Farid Dailami.