Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Depolymerization of PMMA-based Dental Resin Scraps in Dif-ferent Production Scales

Haroldo Jorge da Silva Ribeiro Ribeiro
,
Armando Costa Ferreira
,
Caio Campos Ferreira
,
Lia Martins Pereira
,
Marcelo Costa Santos
ORCID logo ,
Lauro Henrique Hamoy Guerreiro
,
Fernanda Paula da Costa Assunção
,
Sílvio Alex Pereira Da Mota
,
Douglas Alberto Rocha de Castro
ORCID logo ,
Sergio Duvoisin, Jr.
ORCID logo ,
Luiz Eduardo Pizarro Borges
ORCID logo ,
Nélio Teixeira Machado
* ORCID logo ,
Lucas Pinto Bernar
Version 1 : Received: 15 January 2024 / Approved: 16 January 2024 / Online: 16 January 2024 (08:30:57 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Ribeiro, H.J.S.; Ferreira, A.C.; Ferreira, C.C.; Pereira, L.M.; Santos, M.C.; Guerreiro, L.H.H.; Assunção, F.P.C.; da Mota, S.A.P.; Castro, D.A.R.; Duvoisin, S., Jr.; Borges, L.E.P.; Machado, N.T.; Bernar, L.P. Depolymerization of PMMA-Based Dental Resin Scraps on Different Production Scales. Energies 2024, 17, 1196. Ribeiro, H.J.S.; Ferreira, A.C.; Ferreira, C.C.; Pereira, L.M.; Santos, M.C.; Guerreiro, L.H.H.; Assunção, F.P.C.; da Mota, S.A.P.; Castro, D.A.R.; Duvoisin, S., Jr.; Borges, L.E.P.; Machado, N.T.; Bernar, L.P. Depolymerization of PMMA-Based Dental Resin Scraps on Different Production Scales. Energies 2024, 17, 1196.

Abstract

This research explores the depolymerization of waste polymethyl methacrylate (PMMAW) from dental material in fixed-bed semi-batch reactors, focusing on three production scales: laboratory, technical, and pilot. The study investigates the thermal degradation mechanism and kinetics of PMMAW through thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses, revealing a two-step degradation process. The heat flow during PMMAW decomposition is measured by DSC, providing essential parameters for designing pyrolysis processes. The results demonstrate the potential of DSC for energetic analysis and process design, with attention to standardization challenges. Material balance analysis across the production scales reveals a temperature gradient across the fixed bed negatively impacting liquid yield and methyl methacrylate (MMA) concentration. Reactor load and power load variables are introduced, demonstrating decreased temperature with increased process scale. The study identifies the influence of temperature on MMA concentration in the liquid fraction, emphasizing the importance of controlling temperature for efficient depolymerization. Furthermore, the research highlights the formation of aromatic hydrocarbons from the remaining char, indicating a shift in liquid composition during the depolymerization process. The study concludes that lower temperatures below 450 °C favor liquid fractions rich in MMA, suggesting the benefits of lower temperatures and slower heating rates in semi-batch depolymerization. The findings contribute to a novel approach in analyzing pyrolysis processes, emphasizing reactor design and economic considerations for recycling viability. Future research aims to refine and standardize the analysis and design protocols for pyrolysis and similar processes.

Keywords

PMMA waste; process design; thermogravimetry; differential scanning calorimetry; process scale influence

Subject

Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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