M. J. Lawrence, J. W. Garthe, D. R. Buckmaster
Pennsylvania State University
249 Agricultural Engineering Building, University Park, PA 16802

Abstract. A plastic-derived fuel process has been tested at Penn State and has been shown to be effective for plastic materials normally discarded by farmers, landscapers and nurserymen. This fuel, called Plastofuel^™, features a process that consolidates and densifies a wide array of rigid and film plastics. When burned with coal, the product is a safe, clean burning fuel with minimal toxic air emissions. The energy recovery process has been pursued because today’s recycling markets do not support the expense of gathering and cleaning agricultural plastic products, which come from widespread locations and are contaminated with dirt, debris, and pesticides. This paper will discuss efforts to develop a scaled-up, light-commercial Plastofuel™ unit, designed to produce 227 kg (500 lb) of fuel per hour. Called the Plastofuel™ 500, this unit is equipped for a thorough energy analysis and experimentation to improve efficiency. This machine is housed in a trailer, making it easy to demonstrate that fuel can be produced on a small-scale basis on a farm, on an intermediate-scale within county material recovery facilities, or mass-produced by an industry.

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