CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, a national laboratory under Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has been declared the Winner for 3rd National Award for Technology Innovation for 2012-2013 in the category of Innovation in Polymer Waste Management and Recycling Technology and subcategory of Academics and R & D Institution for the innovation in “Technology to convert waste plastics (polyolefins) to automotive grade fuel and petrochemicals”. The award is being given every year by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India to incentivize meritorious innovations and inventions in various fields of Polymers, with participation of Individual/ Team, Industry, Academic and R&D Institutions.
The technology to convert waste plastics (polyolefins) to automotive grade fuel and petrochemicals is a a unique technology developed by CSIR-IIP in collaboration with GAIl (India) ltd. This technology can convert waste polyolefins (polyethylenes and polypropylenes like carry bags, packaging materials, household plastics, agricultural pipes etc) into exclusively any one of the products, viz. gasoline, diesel or petrochemicals. The liquid fuel meet most of the Euro III specifications and their performance is comparable to commercial automotive fuel. The petrochemicals consist mainly of toluene and xylenes which are important raw materials for polymer industry. Based on the process developed 1 Kg of polyolefinic waste, devoid of contaminants, can produce either 550-600 ml gasoline or 750-800 ml diesel or 450-500 ml petrochemicals, alongwith lPG . The process has the potential to solve problem of plastics waste disposal in an economical and environment friendly way, augment the supply of fuel and also provide economic benefits to the weaker segment of the society.