The myth of hazardous-to-wealth concept: transformation of marine microplastics to pyrolysis gas

Microplastics, identified as an emerging environmental pollutant in marine ecosystems, necessitate immediate and comprehensive attention from organizations across various levels. The microsize of these plastic particles poses a significant threat to the environment as they effortlessly disperse throughout the biosphere via ocean waves. This study focuses on investigating the physicochemical properties of microplastic waste in a specific Southeast Asian regional area and evaluating its potential conversion into gaseous products through the pyrolysis process. Remarkably, the pyrolysis of microplastics resulted in an average syngas yield of 34.79%, demonstrating the viability of microplastic valorization. Furthermore, the pyro-solid-char produced exhibits a highly porous structure with minimal amounts of metal oxides, suggesting its potential utilization as fertilizer or catalyst.