Catalytic cracking of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste and palm fibre mixtures using Ni-USY zeolite catalyst

Abstract

This research was carried out to produce fuel (Oil Liquid Poduct/OLP) from catalytic cracking of a mixture of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and fiber waste from palm oil. USY zeolite was previously ion-exchanged by three levels of Ni-metal concentration (1%, 2%, 3%) before used as catalyst in the cacking process. The catalytic cracking was carried out at rasio of sample to catalyst was 6:1, three levels of temperature (400°C, 425°C and 450°C) and three levels of reaction time (10, 20 and 30 minutes).The SEM images and EDX spectra of Ni-USY zeolite catalysts showed that all catalysts were in crystalline form of FAU framework. The highest of OLP percentage, 24.5%, was produced by catalytic cracking at 450°C for 10 minutes using Ni-USY prepared by ion-exchange using 2% concentration of Nickel Nitrate solution.