During the pyrolysis of municipal solid wastes

different components may interact with each other. In order to search the possible interaction on characteristics of tar

starch

polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and their mixture at the weight ratio of 1:1 were pyrolyzed at the temperatures of 400

500 and 600℃. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analyses were adopted to characterize the collected tar. According to the results

interaction was occurred during the co-pyrolysis of starch and PVC

which enhanced the generation of heavier hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The molecular weight of tar showed an obvious increase of 44%—79%. The interaction was more significant at a higher pyrolysis temperature. The tar derived from mixture showed great similarity with that derived from PVC

indicating that during the co-pyrolysis of starch and PVC

PVC was the dominant contributor with respect to tar formation. In addition

as the pyrolysis temperature arose from 400 to 600℃

the yield and homogeneity of tar both decreased while the contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavier hydrocarbons increased. Therefore

the co-pyrolysis and high pyrolysis temperature both contributed to yield less tar

but the tar was more difficult to handle with.