World annual plastic production has exceeded 400 million metric tons, yet the average recycling rate remains below 10%. Chemical recycling is rewriting what’s possible in the circular economy — and pyrolysis is leading the way, whether applied to waste tires, plastics, or various types of biomass.
But feedstock variability and inconsistent end-product properties can quickly undermine credibility. That’s where ASTM D8577 comes in: a newly published guide for waste plastic process oil (WPPO) that sets the standard. PAC instruments are engineered to make the methods within it a repeatable reality, not just a theoretical benchmark.
Explore PAC's WPPO Solutions
Explore PAC's WPPO Solutions
Flash points, viscosity, and boiling range distributions in WPPO shift significantly with feedstock and process. Without a standardized method set, test results between labs are difficult to compare or rely on for procurement decisions.
Sulfur, nitrogen, and trace oxygenates in WPPO can appear at concentrations and in forms not typically encountered in conventional crude. Instruments selected for standard petroleum may not provide adequate sensitivity or selectivity at the levels relevant to pyrolysis oil.
Whether qualifying a stream for coprocessing or reporting to a buyer, labs need documented, method-compliant results. ASTM D8577 provides the traceability framework, your instruments need to execute it reliably, every run.
When labs have the right instruments running the right methods on WPPO, the results speak for themselves. The guide doesn't leave interpretation open; it specifies what to run and why. Our role is making sure the analysis gets you there with confidence.”
Method Coverage
Physical property testing establishes the behavioral envelope of a WPPO stream, its boiling profile, safe handling classification, flow characteristics, and low-temperature limits. These tests are typically the first screen for feedstock qualification and are required for transportation and blending specifications.
Sulfur and nitrogen concentrations in WPPO vary significantly with plastic feedstock type and process conditions. Both affect downstream catalyst performance and emissions compliance. ASTM D8577 includes both methods as part of the minimum characterization suite.
Chromatographic and compositional testing reveals what's in the barrel at a molecular level, hydrocarbon class distribution, oxygenate impurities, and the full boiling range profile that distillation alone cannot resolve. These methods are essential for stream qualification and blend optimization.
The ASTM Standard Guide lists the methods for physical, chemical and elemental analysis of WPPO which addresses to various PAC instruments delivering them. All equipment comes with application notes based on real data collected by running varying WPPO samples, providing method-specific guidance on sample preparation, instrument configuration, and interpretation of results for pyrolysis oil matrices.
PAC Instrument |
ASTM Method |
Property / Measurement |
Application Note |
|---|---|---|---|
Physical Properties |
|||
OptiDist 2 |
D86 |
Atmospheric distillation - full boiling range profile |
|
OptiPMD |
D7345 |
Micro-distillation - rapid boiling range screening |
|
OptiFlash |
D93 · D7236 |
Flash point |
|
HVM472, DFA-70Xi, OptiMVD |
D445 · D7945 |
Kinematic viscosity |
|
OptiCPP |
D5950 |
Pour point |
|
Elemental Analysis |
|||
ElemeNtS |
D5453 · D5762 |
Total sulfur & nitrogen by UVF & chemiluminescence |
|
Compositional Understanding |
|||
Reformulyzer M4 w/ Prefractionation |
D6839 |
Hydrocarbon type, carbon number, classification |
|
GC×GC System |
D8396 |
2D GC-FID and flow modulation for group-type analysis |
|
SIMDIS Analyzer |
D2887 · D7169 · D7213 · D7500 |
Simulated distillation |
PAC’s petrochemical solutions portfolio covers the full range of refinery and chemical testing solutions.
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