Salar Tavakkol SalarTavakkol

Dr.-Ing. Salar Tavakkol

  • Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
    Institut für Technische Chemie (ITC)
    Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1
    76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen

Department Pyrolysis Technology

Head of the working group Pyrolysis Technology 

Key activities:

Thermochemical Recycling of Plastic Waste

  • Mid-temperature pyrolysis processes for the chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste
  • Conceptual reactor and process design with a focus on scalability and industrial implementation
  • Comprehensive online and offline analysis of products from chemical recycling processes

Numerical Simulation of Multiphase Systems

  • Investigation using CFD-DEM simulations for complex multiphase and reactive flows
  • Evaluation of heat and mass transfer in moving beds and rotating reactor systems

From Technology to Sustainable Solutions

  • Development of integrated technological and economic solutions for the circular economy
  • Research coordination, team leadership and project management

CV:

since 05/2021 Head of Research Group Plastic Pyrolysis, ITC, KIT
04/2020 - 04/2021 Project Manager, German association for gas and water (DVGW) Research Center, Karlsruhe
02/2017 - 04/2020 Scientific Assistant, Engler-Bunte-Institute, KIT
10/2015 - 01/2017 Scientific Partner, Engler-Bunte-Institute, KIT
2013 - 2016 Master of Science (M.Sc.), Energy Science and Technology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany


Publications:

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=-aBuF6YAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate


2026
Optimizing product yield and composition in chemical recycling of mixed plastics through temperature-staged pyrolysis
Netsch, N.; Tauber, A.; Merz, D.; Bergfeldt, B.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2026. Chemical engineering science, 327, 123622. doi:10.1016/j.ces.2026.123622
Characteristics of Polyurethane Pyrolysis - Experimental Investigations and Product Analyses for the Assessment of Chemical Recycling Potentials
Zeller, M.; Wattenberg, L.; Shrestha, P.; Hannemann, A.; Erdenepurev, A.-E.; Netsch, N.; Bergfeldt, B.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2026. Journal of applied polymer science, 143 (7), Art.-Nr.: e70032. doi:10.1002/app.70032
2025
Chemical Recycling of Mixed Thermoplastics via Pyrolysis: A Comparative Study of Feedstock Influence and Reactor Impact
Netsch, N.; Tauber, A.; Keskin, O.; Bergfeldt, B.; Wehner, H.; Eidam, D.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025. Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis, 194, Art.Nr: 107575. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2025.107575
Chemical characterization of mixed plastic pyrolysis oils relevant for cracker reintegration by advanced two-dimensional gas chromatography
Netsch, N.; Weigel, L.; Schmedding, T.; Zeller, M.; Bergfeldt, B.; Straczewski, G.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025. Fuel Processing Technology, 280, 108359. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2025.108359
Experimental and Analytical Tools for the Chemical Recycling of Engineering Plastics – A Multi‐Scale Pyrolysis Study on Polydicyclopentadiene
Zeller, M.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 46 (23), 2500161. doi:10.1002/marc.202500161
Entrained-Flow Gasification for the Utilization of Pyrolysis Oil from Mixed Plastic Waste
Hennig, M.; Dreising, T. M.; Reeves, A.; Oehlcke, T.; Tavakkol, S.; Volk, R.; Schultmann, F.; Stapf, D.
2025. ACS sustainable chemistry & engineering. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c03932
Chemical recycling of refrigerator plastic waste by pyrolysis: Yields, product composition, and potential applications
Vogt, J.; Renno, A. D.; Fuchs, M.; Kurtz, T.; Netsch, N.; Richter, F.; Straczewski, G.; Bergfeldt, B.; Madriz-Diaz, Y. C.; Ribeiro, A. de L.; Ebert, D.; Tavakkol, S.; Raatz, S.; Stapf, D.
2025. Fuel, 400, Art.-Nr.: 135776. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2025.135776
Numerical Simulation of Plastic Pyrolysis
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.; Thorsten, Z.
2025. Proceedings of the 9th bwHPC-Symposium, Mannheim Conference Series (MaConf), 31–36. doi:10.25521/maconf.2025
Towards the Circularity of Flame-Retarded Expanded Polystyrene via Pyrolysis
Alsharqawi, R.; Merz, D.; Zeller, M.; Netsch, N.; Kurtz, T.; Bergfeldt, B.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025, September 17. PYROLIQ III: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes (2025), Cetraro, Italy, September 14–19, 2025
Pyrolytic Interactions of Polyurethanes with Thermoplastics : Implications for Chemical Recycling
Zeller, M.; Hannemann, A.; Erdenepurev, A.-E.; Netsch, N.; Schell, P.; Merz, D.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025. 13th International Freiberg Conference on Circular Carbon Technologies (IFC 2025)
Plastic Waste-to-Olefins Using a Two-Stage Reactor Concept With Catalytic Upgrading
Vogt, J.; Dorner, M.; Straczewski, G.; Mihan, S.; Fraaije, V.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025, September 1. 16th European Congress on Catalysis (EuropaCat 2025), Trondheim, Norway, August 31–September 5, 2025
Simulation of Plastics Pyrolysis in Fluidized Bed with a Lumped Reaction Kinetic Model
Li, M.; Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Zirwes, T.; Stein, O. T.; Stapf, D.
2025. Modelling and Experimental Characterization of Reactive Particle-Gas Systems. Editors: Otto von Guericke Universität Magdeburg und Ruhr Universität,2nd International Workshop on Reacting Particle-Gas Systems, Bochum, June 17th -18th , 2025, Magdeburg, 97–100. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.25673/118928
Chemical recycling of flame-retarded Plastics: Reducing the bromine content in the pyrolysis oil using calcium-based sorbents
Alsharqawi, R.; Bergfeldt, B.; Merz, D.; Richter, F.; Straczewski, G.; Netsch, N.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025, June 5. 20th European Meeting on Fire Retardant Polymeric Materials (FRPM 2025), Madrid, Spain, June 3–6, 2025
TG-FTIR Investigations of the Pyrolysis of Polyurethanes: Quantitative Carbon Dioxide Tracing, Decomposition Mechanisms, Products and Mass Balances for Advanced Recycling
Zeller, M.; Merz, D.; Weigel, L.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 188, 107048. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2025.107048
Numerical Simulation of Plastic Pyrolysis
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025, May. 12th International Conference on Multiphase Flow (ICMF 2025), Toulouse, France, May 12–16, 2025
Closing the loop: pyrolysis of flame-retarded (E)PS
Alsharqawi, R.; Merz, D.; Kurtz, T.; Zeller, M.; Netsch, N.; Bergfeldt, B.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025, March 18. Jahrestreffen der DECHEMA-Fachgruppen Abfallbehandlung und Wertstoffrückgewinnung (AuW), Hochtemperaturtechnik (HTT) und Rohstoffe (ROH 2025), Dresden, Germany, March 17–18, 2025
Pyrolysis of Polystyrene with Mineral Fillers: Perspectives for Recycling of the Plastic-rich Fraction from Thermal Insulation Construction Material
Kurtz, T.; Merz, D.; Garbev, K.; Alsharqawi, R.; Stemmermann, P.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025, March 18. Jahrestreffen der DECHEMA-Fachgruppen Abfallbehandlung und Wertstoffrückgewinnung (AuW), Hochtemperaturtechnik (HTT) und Rohstoffe (ROH 2025), Dresden, Germany, March 17–18, 2025
Chemisches Recycling von Kunststoffabfällen: Untersuchungen zur Umsetzung kunststoffbasierter Pyrolyseöle im Flugstromvergaser
Fleck, S.; Haas, M.; Santo, U.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.; Kolb, T.; Scheiff, F.
2025, March 18. Jahrestreffen der DECHEMA-Fachgruppen Abfallbehandlung und Wertstoffrückgewinnung (AuW), Hochtemperaturtechnik (HTT) und Rohstoffe (ROH 2025), Dresden, Germany, March 17–18, 2025
Vergleich von chemischen Recyclingoptionen mit der thermischen Abfallverwertung
Hennig, M.; Dreising, T.; Reeves, A.; Gehrmann, H.-J.; Richter, F.; Bergfeldt, B.; Straczewski, G.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025, January 28. Berliner Konferenz Abfallwirtschaft und Energie (BKAWE 2025), Berlin, Germany, January 28–29, 2025
Vergleich von chemischen Recyclingoptionen mit der thermischen Abfallverwertung
Hennig, M.; Dreising, T. M.; Reeves, A.; Gehrmann, H.-J.; Richter, F.; Bergfeldt, B.; Straczewski, G.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2025. Abfallwirtschaft und Energie. Bd.: 2. Hrsg.: S. Thiel, 559–570, Thomé-Kozmiensky Verlag (TK)
Modeling of Plastic Pyrolysis
Zhang, F.; Li, M.; Tavakkol, S.; Zirwes, T.; Stapf, D.
2025. Proceedings Modelling and Experimental Characterization of Reactive Particle-Gas Systems. Editors: Otto von Guericke Universität Magdeburg und Ruhr Universität Bochum, 65–68. doi:10.25673/118928
Particle-resolved simulation of the pyrolysis process of a single plastic particle
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Galeazzo, F. C. C.; Stapf, D.
2025. Heat and Mass Transfer, 61 (1), 12. doi:10.1007/s00231-024-03524-6
2024
Influencing the Product Quality in Chemical Recycling of Mixed Thermoplastics by Temperature-staged Pyrolysis
Netsch, N.; Tauber, A.; Keskin, O.; Merz, D.; Bergfeldt, B.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, November 27. DGMK-Konferenz "Energy and Material Flows in Sustainable Petrochemistry - Opportunities and Implications" (2024), Hamburg, Germany, November 27–29, 2024
Numerical Simulation of Thermal Decomposition of Polyethylene with a Single-Particle Model
Zhang, F.; Cao, J.; Zirwes, T.; Netsch, N.; Tavakkol, S.; Zhang, R.; Bockhorn, H.; Stapf, D.
2024. Advances in Computational Heat and Mass Transfer – Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Computational Heat and Mass Transfer (ICCHMT 2023), 4-8 September, 2023, Düsseldorf, Germany, Volume 1. Ed.: A. Benim, 180 – 191, Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-67241-5_17
Advanced analytical methods for characterization of condensable pyrolysis products from plastic waste
Netsch, N.; Schmedding, T.; Pöplow, A.; Zeller, M.; Bergfeldt, B.; Straczewski, G.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, September. KNT-Symposium “Chemical Engineering for a Sustainable World” (2024), Karlsruhe, Germany, September 30–October 2, 2024
Advanced analytical methods for characterization of condensable pyrolysis products from plastic waste
Netsch, N.; Schmedding, T.; Pöplow, A.; Zeller, M.; Bergfeldt, B.; Straczewski, G.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, September. KNT-Symposium “Chemical Engineering for a Sustainable World” (2024), Karlsruhe, Germany, September 30–October 2, 2024
Towards Polyurethane Circularity by Pyrolysis : Lab-scale Investigations & Detailed Product Analyses
Zeller, M.; Weigel, L.; Hannemann, A.; Shrestha, P.; Erdenepurev, A.-E.; Wattenberg, L.; Merz, D.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, September. KNT-Symposium “Chemical Engineering for a Sustainable World” (2024), Karlsruhe, Germany, September 30–October 2, 2024
Towards Polyurethane Circularity : Lab-scale Investigations & Detailed Product Analyses
Zeller, M.; Weigel, L.; Hannemann, A.; Shrestha, P.; Erdenepurev, A.-E.; Wattenberg, L.; Merz, D.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, September. KNT-Symposium “Chemical Engineering for a Sustainable World” (2024), Karlsruhe, Germany, September 30–October 2, 2024
The influence of brominated flame-retardants on the pyrolysis behavior of plastics via TGA and Py-GC-MS
Alsharqawi, R.; Merz, D.; Bergfeldt, B.; Straczewski, G.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, August 22. 10th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation (WasteEng 2024), Sendai, Japan, August 20–23, 2024
Integration of Mixed Plastic Waste Pyrolysis into the Chemical Value Chain via Steam Cracking and Gasification
Hennig, M.; Pillich, M.; Netsch, N.; Tavakkol, S.; Bardow, A.; Stapf, D.
2024, August. 10th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation (WasteEng 2024), Sendai, Japan, August 20–23, 2024
Towards Polyurethane Circularity - An Assessment of Polyurethane Pyrolysis: Degradation Mechanisms, Products and Recycling Potential
Zeller, M.; Merz, D.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, August. 10th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation (WasteEng 2024), Sendai, Japan, August 20–23, 2024
Chemical Recycling of Thermoplastic Mixtures: Superposition Modeling and Experimental Validation
Netsch, N.; Schröder, L.; Merz, D.; Zimmerlin, B.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, August. 10th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation (WasteEng 2024), Sendai, Japan, August 20–23, 2024
Energy Demand for Pyrolysis of Mixed Thermoplastics and Waste Plastics in Chemical Recycling: Model Prediction and Pilot-Scale Validation
Netsch, N.; Zeller, M.; Richter, F.; Bergfeldt, B.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024. Sustainable resource Management, 1 (7), 1485–1492. doi:10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00109
Simulation of plastic pyrolysis in fluidized bed
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Zirwes, T.; Stapf, D.
2024, May. 24th International Symposium on Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (Pyro 2024), Beijing, China, May 19–23, 2024
Circular Economy als Basis für resiliente und erneuerbare Rohstoffkreisläufe
Brellochs, J.; Goy, J.; Scherdel, C.; Brödnerl, R.; Nelles, M.; Lorenz, T.; Weiß, K.-A.; Kullmann, F.; Wern, B.; Borchers, M.; Otto, D.; Berg, H.; Tavakkol, S.
2024. Forschung für ein resilientes Energiesystem in Zeiten globaler Krisen, 83–87, ForschungsVerbund Erneuerbare Energien (FVEE)
Particle-resolved numerical simulation of pyrolysis process of a non-ideal plastic particle
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Somvanshi, A.; Galeazzo, F.; Stapf, D.
2024, April. 14th European Conference on Industrial Furnaces and Boilers (INFUB 2024), Salgados, Portugal, April 2–5, 2024
Optimierung der Pyrolyseprodukte aus Kunststoffabfällen durch ein zweistufiges Reaktorkonzept mit katalytischer Nachbehandlung
Vogt, J.; Richter, F.; Netsch, N.; Straczewski, G.; Mihan, S.; Fraaije, V.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024, March 20. Jahrestreffen der ProcessNet Fachgruppe Hochtemperaturtechnik (2024), Lindlar, Germany, March 19–20, 2024
Assessment of dynamic characteristics of fluidized beds via numerical simulations
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Dercho, S.; Zhou, J.; Zirwes, T.; Zeller, M.; Vogt, J.; Zhang, R.; Bockhorn, H.; Stapf, D.
2024. Physics of Fluids, 36 (2), Art.-Nr.: 023348. doi:10.1063/5.0189519
Thermogravimetric study on thermal degradation kinetics and polymer interactions in mixed thermoplastics
Netsch, N.; Schröder, L.; Zeller, M.; Neugber, I.; Merz, D.; Klein, C. O.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2024. Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry. doi:10.1007/s10973-024-13630-6
2023
A numerical study of a cold-mode fluidized bed reactor designed for pyrolysis of plastics
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Dercho, S.; Bohlender, L.; Zirwes, T.; Zeller, M.; Vogt, J.; Stapf, D.
2023, September 28. 31. Deutscher Flammentag (2023), Berlin, Germany, September 27–28, 2023
An assessment of fluidized bed dynamics with CPFD simulations
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Dercho, S.; Bohlender, L.; Zirwes, T.; Zeller, M.; Vogt, J.; Stapf, D.
2023, September 28. 31. Deutscher Flammentag (2023), Berlin, Germany, September 27–28, 2023
Evaluating the technical integration of catalytic pyrolysis for polyolefin-rich waste recycling into light olefins
Netsch, N.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2023, September 26. 11th International Freiberg Conference (2023), Rotterdam, Netherlands, September 24–29, 2023
A numerical study of a cold-mode fluidized bed reactor designed for pyrolysis of plastics
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Dercho, S.; Bohlender, L.; Zirwes, T.; Zeller, M.; Vogt, J.; Stapf, D.
2023. 31. Deutscher Flammentag für Nachhaltige Verbrennung 2023, Berlin, 27. und 28. September 2023
An assessment of fluidized bed dynamics with CPFD simulations
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Bohlender, L.; Dercho, S.; Zirwes, T.; Zeller, M.; Vogt, J.; Stapf, D.
2023. 31. Deutscher Flammentag
Plastic pyrolysis: an experimental study on the circularity of organic-rich fraction from mechanical recycling of refrigerators
Tavakkol, S.
2023, June 13. Helmholtz Energy Conference (2023), Koblenz, Germany, June 12–13, 2023
Fundamental research on pyrolysis of plastic wastes via numerical simulation
Zhang, F.; Tavakkol, S.; Zirwes, T.; Netsch, N.; Zeller, M.; Vogt, J.; Stapf, D.
2023, June 13. Helmholtz Energy Conference (2023), Koblenz, Germany, June 12–13, 2023
Modeling of radiation heat transfer in dense-bed flows of solids in indirectly heated rotary kilns
Tavakkol, S.; Zirwes, T.; Denev, J. A.; Bockhorn, H.; Stapf, D.
2023. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 38, Article no: 101545. doi:10.1016/j.tsep.2022.101545
Numerical simulation of thermal decomposition of polyethylene with a single-particle model
Zhang, F.
2023. 14th International Conference on Computational Heat and Mass Transfer (ICCHMT 2023), Düsseldorf, Germany, September 4–8, 2023
The chemical process of producing activated carbon using walnut shells and plastic wastes
Bazgir, H.; Rostami, M. R.; Tavakkol, S.; Issaabadi, Z.; Shirazi, H. M.; Goshayeshi, B.; Van Geem, K. M.; Haghighi, M. N.; Abbas-Abadi, M. S.
2023. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 148, 10125–10138. doi:10.1007/s10973-023-12364-1
Chemical Recycling of Polyolefinic Waste to Light Olefins by Catalytic Pyrolysis
Netsch, N.; Vogt, J.; Richter, F.; Straczewski, G.; Mannebach, G.; Fraaije, V.; Tavakkol, S.; Mihan, S.; Stapf, D.
2023. Chemie Ingenieur Technik, 95 (8), 1305–1313. doi:10.1002/cite.202300078
Economic and environmental assessment of automotive plastic waste end‐of‐life options: Energy recovery versus chemical recycling
Stallkamp, C.; Hennig, M.; Volk, R.; Richter, F.; Bergfeldt, B.; Tavakkol, S.; Schultmann, F.; Stapf, D.
2023. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 27 (5), 1319–1334. doi:10.1111/jiec.13416
Thermogravimetric studies, kinetic modeling and product analysis of the pyrolysis of model polymers for technical polyurethane applications
Zeller, M.; Garbev, K.; Weigel, L.; Saatzer, T.; Merz, D.; Tavakkol, S.; Stapf, D.
2023. Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis, 171, Article no: 105976. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2023.105976
2022
Modeling of radiation heat transfer in the dense-bed flow of solid pyrolysis in indirectly heated rotary kilns
Tavakkol, S.
2022. Proceedings of the 13th European Conference on Industrial Furnaces and Boilsers (INFUB)
2021
An Eulerian-Lagrangian method for wet biomass carbonization in rotary kiln reactors
Tavakkol, S.; Zirwes, T.; Denev, J. A.; Jamshidi, F.; Weber, N.; Bockhorn, H.; Trimis, D.
2021. Renewable & sustainable energy reviews, 139, Art.-Nr.: 110582. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2020.110582
2020
Development of an Openfoam Solver for Numerical Simulation of Carbonization of Biomasses in Rotary Kilns
Tavakkol, S.; Zirwes, T.; Denev, J. A.; Jamshidi, F.; Bockhorn, H.
2020. OpenFOAM Workshop, June 22 - 25, 2020, Arlington, Virginia, USA