Experimental study of catalytic degradation of polypropylene by acid-activated clay and performance of Ni as a promoter

ABSTRACT

Catalytic and thermal cracking of polypropylene was performed in a batch reactor. Effect of hydrochloric acid activation on kaolin clay, effects of catalysts (acid-activated clays), promoter (5 wt% Ni), and cracking temperatures on the liquid oil yield were investigated. Results show optimized liquid yield (71.9%) obtained at 470°C with kaolin clay activated with 3 M HCl. Acid-activated catalysts were analyzed using XRD and the results reveal the reduction in peaks’ intensities. Weight loss of polypropylene was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. FTIR and GCMS techniques were employed to analyze the liquid products.

KEYWORDS:

• Acid-activation
• catalytic pyrolysis
• hydrocarbons
• kaolin
• polypropylene

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the National Center for Physics (NCP).