Catalytic Pyrolysis of Low-Density Polyethylene Waste

Ioan Calinescu, Grigore Psenovschi, Mihaela Cojocaru, Ciprian Gabriel Chisega-Negrila, Carmen Albulescu, Mihai Brebu, Adrian Trifan, Nicoleta Daniela Ignat and Petre Chipurici ()
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Ioan Calinescu: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Grigore Psenovschi: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Cojocaru: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Ciprian Gabriel Chisega-Negrila: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Carmen Albulescu: AMD INITIATIVE SRL, 020543 Bucharest, Romania
Mihai Brebu: “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Adrian Trifan: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Nicoleta Daniela Ignat: Faculty of Entrepreneurship, Business Engineering and Management, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Petre Chipurici: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: Plastics, once regarded as a revolutionary material shaping modern society, now pose an unprecedented threat to our environment. Household solid waste sorting stations produce several fractions, one of which contains a high concentration of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) film waste (packaging, sunscreen film, etc.). This fraction is difficult to recycle because it contains quite a lot of impurities. Usually, it is sent to cement factories that burn it together with other fuels. However, with some processing techniques such as catalytic pyrolysis, this fraction could be valorized. In this paper, experiments were carried out in batches at a laboratory-scale installation, with a processing capacity of 1–3 kg of waste. A pyrolysis reactor was connected to a distillation column, enabling separation of the fractions. The gaseous and liquid fractions were characterized by GC-FID-TCD (gases) and GC-MS (liquids) analysis. Natural catalysts such as bentonite or clinoptilolite were studied and used in the melting of plastic mass to simplify the process as much as possible. To test the activity of the catalysts, the pyrolysis of LDPE granules was initially studied. It was found that natural zeolites are much more active than bentonite and that a minimum concentration of 5–10% is needed to have a positive effect on the composition of the fractions (increasing the weight of the light fractions (C1–C6, C6–C10, and C11–C13) in relation to the heavy fractions (C13–C20 and C20+). Catalytic pyrolysis gives a completely different distribution of light hydrocarbons. The best catalyst selected from LDPE lab experiments was then tested upon the pyrolysis of plastic film waste obtained by a waste treatment plant. The research objective reported in this paper was to obtain a fraction of combustible gases in the largest possible proportion, which can be much more easily exploited by burning in an engine that drives an electric generator.

Keywords: LDPE waste; pyrolysis; natural zeolite; catalyst in melted plastic waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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