Pyrolysis of Waste Polyolefins into Liquid Petrochemicals Using Metal Carbonate Catalyst

Abstract

Currently, demand of liquid hydrocarbons is continuously growing because of the uncertain supply of fossil fuels. The current advanced technology will contribute to our societies (Swachh Bharat Mission) because the aim of the research is to provide alternative energy, and it will minimize waste plastics. The liquid petrochemicals were obtained from sustainable waste polyolefins. TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) was analyzed to find the thermal stability of all polyolefin’s wastes. The pyrolysis process was started at 22°C and then completed at 390°C. Recoveries as liquids, gases, and residues were obtained from pyrolysis of 16 gm LD-PE (low-density polyethylene), 64 gm HD-PE (high-density polyethylene) and 15 gm PP (polypropylene) plastic waste polyolefins with 5 gm magnesium carbonate (MgCO3). The conversion ratio of waste polyolefins (LD-PE, HD-PE, and PP plastics) to liquid hydrocarbons was 92%, 7.52% to light gases, and 0.48% residue. A mixture of hydrocarbons such as aliphatic, aromatics, alcohol, acetate, and aster were found in liquid hydrocarbons through GC-MS-MS (triple quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), and functional groups were observed through FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The alternative fraction recovery from waste plastic materials was excellent. Liquid hydrocarbons could be used in petrochemical industries as a raw material, in automobiles as an alternative fuel, and in diesel furnace.