Catalytic degradation of waste rubbers and plastics over metal-modified HY zeolites to produce aromatic hydrocarbons

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
en
Date
2021
Authors
Wang J
Jiang J
Sun Y
Wang X
Li M
Ruan R
Ragauskas AJ
Ok YS
Tsang DCW
Pang, Shusheng
Abstract

Catalytic conversion of waste rubbers and plastics into aromatic hydrocarbons is a promising approach to waste management and energy recovery. In the present study, acidic HY zeolites were supported by cobalt, iron, and zirconium, and the catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, ammonia temperature programmed desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and pyridine-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The catalytic degradation of waste polybutadiene rubbers (BR) was conducted to investigate the degradation mechanism and evaluate the catalytic activity of supported zeolites. Experimental results indicated that HY loaded by zirconium and iron led to a higher content of Lewis acid sites as opposed to cobalt supported one. Compared with the non-catalytic pyrolysis of BR, the zirconium supported HY (Zr/HY) led to a 10-fold increase in aromatic hydrocarbons production with a distinctively high selectivity of 97.9%. A series of waste polymers including waste tires (WT), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), and BR, were subjected to catalytic pyrolysis to explore the effects of polymer type on aromatic hydrocarbons generation, and BR was the most effective substrate, with yield enhancement reaching 2.4 over Zr/HY. Catalytic co-pyrolysis of waste rubbers and plastics was conducted to probe the effect of polymer structure on aromatic hydrocarbons formation, where a significant synergistic effect was observed in the PE co-fed with PC run.

Description
Citation
Wang J, Jiang J, Sun Y, Wang X, Li M, Pang S, Ruan R, Ragauskas AJ, Ok YS, Tsang DCW (2021). Catalytic degradation of waste rubbers and plastics over metal-modified HY zeolites to produce aromatic hydrocarbons. Journal of Cleaner Production. 127469-127469.
Keywords
catalytic pyrolysis, sustainable waste management, polybutadiene rubber, plastic recycling/valorization, aromatic hydrocarbons
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Fields of Research::40 - Engineering::4004 - Chemical engineering::400402 - Chemical and thermal processes in energy and combustion
Fields of Research::40 - Engineering::4011 - Environmental engineering::401106 - Waste management, reduction, reuse and recycling
Rights
All rights reserved unless otherwise stated