In this work, the pyrolysis of post-consumer mixed plastic waste (polypropylene (PP),
polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene film (PE)) is carried out. The solid product of the pyrolysis is
characterized and tested for its use as adsorbent of lead present in aqueous media. The pyrolysis
temperature has a great influence on the solid product yield, decreasing when the temperature increases. The highest yield to solid product obtained is from the pyrolysis of film at lower temperature
(450 ◦C), reaching almost 14%. The results of product solid characterization reveal that the carbon,
hydrogen and nitrogen content decreases with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Furthermore, both
the ash and the volatile content are related to the pyrolysis temperature. The ash content is higher
when the pyrolysis temperature is higher, while when the temperature increases, a solid product with
lower volatile content is obtained. In respect to specific surface area, a higher pyrolysis temperature
improves the properties of the solid product as an adsorbent. The adsorption capacity increases as
the pyrolysis temperature increases, with the highest value of 7.91 mg/g for the solid obtained in the
pyrolysis at 550 ◦C. In addition, adsorption capacity increases as the initial concentration of lead rises,
reaching a maximum value close to 26 mg/g for an initial concentration of 40 mg/L. The Sips model
is the one that best reproduces the experimental results of the adsorption process equilibrium study.PID2019-108826RB-I00/SRA (State Research
Agency)/10.13039/50110001103