Abstract
This study examines the thermal treatment of polystyrene waste as an effective alternative to conventional mechanical recycling. Given the growing volume of plastic waste and the complexity of processing foamed materials, an analysis was conducted of recent publications on the influence of process parameters on the yield and composition of liquid pyrolysis products. Particular attention was paid to the effects of temperature and residence time in the reaction zone. Based on the analysis, it was established that the most optimal temperature range is 400–500°C. It is under these conditions that the maximum yield of the liquid fraction, enriched with valuable aromatic compounds, including styrene, benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene is achieved. As a result, it was found that deviations from the optimal temperatures lead either to incomplete polymer degradation or to excessive gas formation. The advantages of pyrolysis in the processing of contaminated and expanded polystyrene materials were highlighted. Additionally, the importance of improving the efficiency of polymer waste processing technologies in the context of increasing environmental pressure is emphasized. It is concluded that the technology has significant potentialfor the production of chemical feedstocks and the development of a circular economy, provided that systems for sorting, purifying, and subsequent fractionation of pyrolysis products are improved.