Abstract

CIMFR-1.0 is a self-contained, open-hardware chemical processing unit that converts clean, post-consumer polyolefin plastics (Polyethylene [PE] and Polypropylene [PP]) into drop-in industrial fuels: C5-C12 gasoline-cut hydrocarbons (target: 91+ RON) and low-sulfur off-road diesel (target: <15 ppm sulfur).

The system uses a two-stage thermal/catalytic pathway grounded in published research from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), which demonstrated that AlCl3-containing molten salts convert polyolefins into gasoline-range branched C6-C12 alkanes at temperatures below 170°C via Lewis-acid carbenium ion chemistry — without noble metal catalysts or an external hydrogen source. This is not standard thermal pyrolysis (450°C-600°C). It is low-temperature catalytic depolymerization followed by vapor-phase zeolite upgrading.

VALIDATED FEEDSTOCK ENVELOPE (THIS REACTOR): ALLOWED: HDPE, LDPE, Polypropylene (PP). Moisture: <0.5 wt%. OUT OF SCOPE (require separate validated reactor designs): Polystyrene (PS) — reacts differently under AlCl3 Lewis acid PVC — chlorine source, incompatible with this chemistry Vulcanized rubber/tire crumb — sulfur-crosslinked, different chemistry required Biomass/cellulosic organics — oxygenated groups consume/ deactivate AlCl3 catalyst

WHY FEEDSTOCK IS RESTRICTED: The ORNL chemistry is specifically validated on polyolefin backbones via hydride-abstraction/beta-scission. Other polymer classes need separate bench validation before being added to this reactor. Expanding feedstock without that validation is how overclaiming happens.

This isn't a fuel crisis solution. It's a waste-to-fuel resilience tool that could be useful in specific contexts — small communities, developing regions, emergency response, off-grid operations — where access to conventional fuel supply chains is unreliable.

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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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