{
    "title": "Plastic-to-Oil Conversion",
    "inventor_name": "Ito Akinori",
    "publication_year": 2009,
    "device_name": "Liquefying Apparatus",
    "goal": "Convert waste plastic (PE, PS, PP) into usable crude oil and gas, reducing landfill, incineration and CO_2 emissions.",
    "problem_addressed": "Low recycling rates of plastic, environmental pollution from plastic waste, and the large fraction of oil used to produce plastics.",
    "concept_summary": "A small, electrically heated machine melts mixed plastics, then cracks the molten plastic in an inclined decomposing chamber with a lead-screw and catalytic zeolite. The resulting vapors are condensed into crude oil, while a portion of the gas can fuel a generator. The process uses about 1 kW per kilogram of plastic and yields roughly one litre of oil.",
    "detailed_description": "The apparatus consists of a hopper, a melting unit (heated electrically and optionally by friction from a rotating lead screw), and an upward-inclined cracking unit equipped with a lead screw, a catalyst tube (zeolite), and a residue take-off. The cracking unit prevents molten plastic gas from flowing back into the residue section via valves, suction or a rotary cylinder valve. The crude gas can be used directly for generators or stoves; after condensation it becomes oil suitable for vehicles. Some versions include a diesel-powered generator that runs on the produced oil or blended food oil, providing electricity for the heaters and motors.",
    "category": "Chemistry & Chemical Processes",
    "principles": [
        "Thermal cracking (pyrolysis)",
        "Catalytic cracking using zeolite",
        "Frictional heating via rotating screw",
        "Condensation of hydrocarbon vapors"
    ],
    "scientific_domains": [
        "Chemical Engineering",
        "Materials Science",
        "Energy"
    ],
    "mechanisms_of_action": [
        "Melting of plastic by electric heating",
        "Vaporization and cracking of molten plastic",
        "Catalyst-directed hydrocarbon chain breakdown",
        "Condensation of vapors into liquid oil",
        "Residue removal via screw and valves"
    ],
    "materials": [
        "Steel (machine frame)",
        "Lead screw (metal alloy)",
        "Zeolite catalyst (silicon oxide and alumina)",
        "Heaters (electric heating elements)",
        "Electrical motor"
    ],
    "energy_sources": [
        "Electricity (for heaters and motors)",
        "Diesel (for optional generator)",
        "Off-gas (to power generator in some embodiments)"
    ],
    "inputs": [
        "Waste plastic (polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene)",
        "Electricity",
        "Diesel fuel (optional)",
        "Catalyst (zeolite)"
    ],
    "outputs": [
        "Crude oil (~=1 L per kg plastic)",
        "Crude gas (fuel for generators/stoves)",
        "Solid residue (char)",
        "Electricity (if generator used)"
    ],
    "claimed_performance": "1 kg plastic -> ~1 L oil; electricity consumption ~=1 kW (~=$0.20 per kg).",
    "experimental_evidence": "The company reports 60 machines operating at farms, fisheries and small factories in Japan and abroad; a portable model was demonstrated on the Marshall Islands for educational and fuel purposes.",
    "replication_status": "Deployed in at least 60 locations (farms, fisheries, small factories) and used in educational projects on the Marshall Islands.",
    "keywords": [
        "plastic waste",
        "oil conversion",
        "pyrolysis",
        "recycling",
        "waste-to-energy",
        "zeolite catalyst",
        "thermal cracking"
    ],
    "related_technologies": [
        "Plastic pyrolysis",
        "Waste-to-energy plants",
        "Catalytic cracking",
        "Small-scale oil refineries"
    ],
    "controversy_level": "low",
    "confidence_score": 0.85,
    "practicability_score": 0.8,
    "fringe_score": 0.2,
    "evidence_strength": 0.6,
    "risk_score": 0.3,
    "trl_estimate": 6,
    "source_urls": [
        "http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/plastic-to%20-oil-fantastic/",
        "https://patents.google.com/patent/USP2009117015",
        "https://patents.google.com/patent/KR20090031685"
    ],
    "organizations": [
        "Blest (Japan)",
        "Plastic Waste Management Institute"
    ],
    "applications": [
        "Fuel for generators and stoves",
        "Vehicle fuel (after refinement)",
        "Educational demonstration of recycling",
        "Remote community energy supply"
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Cannot process PET (type 1) plastics",
        "Requires electricity for heating",
        "Small-scale output (~=1 L oil per kg plastic)",
        "Residue handling needed"
    ],
    "open_questions": [
        "Scalability to industrial-scale processing",
        "Long-term catalyst durability and regeneration",
        "Lifecycle CO_2 balance compared with traditional recycling",
        "Economic viability in different regions"
    ],
    "red_flags": [],
    "evidence_quotes": [
        "One kilogram of plastic produces almost one liter of oil. To convert that amount takes about 1 kilowatt of electricity, which is approximately YEN20 or 20 cents worth.",
        "The company makes the machines in various sizes and has 60 in place at farms, fisheries and small factories in Japan and several abroad.",
        "The machines are able to process polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene (numbers 2-4) but not PET bottles (number 1).",
        "Blests conversion technology is very safe because it uses a temperature controlling electric heater rather than flame.",
        "The smallest version, shown in the videobrief, costs YEN950,000 (US $9,500)."
    ]
}