Investigating the effect of pyro-catalytic temperature on gasoline production from low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastics waste

Abstract

This research aims to produce hydrocarbon fuels from LDPE plastic waste by the pyro-catalytic method. Pyro-catalytic of LDPE samples was carried out at 400, 425, 450, 475, 500, 525 and 550 °C, heating flow rate of 15 °C/min with zeolite catalyst. Fuel-oil quality analysis includes: density, viscosity, heat value, and hydrocarbon compounds using Gas Chromatrography-Mass Spectrometry(GC-MS). The pyro-catalytic process at temperatures of 400, 425 and 450 °C did not produce fuel oil, while at 550 °C it produced wax, so that the analysis of the quality of fuel-oil was not carried out. At pyrolysis temperatures of 475, 500 and 525 °C, respectively: bio-oil yield 8.4; 25.6; 46.5%; viscosity 0.81; 0.75; 0,84cP, density 0.750; 0.764; 0.756 g/mL and the caloric value of 11,403; 11,421; 11,338 kcal/kg.GC-MS spectrogram analysis of fuel-oil obtained the highest gasoline (C5-C12) content at pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C which was 81.31%.Based on the physical characteristics and percentage of the gasoline compounds content, this study recommends the production of fuel-oil from pyrolysis LDPE with zeolite catalytic done at a temperature of 500 °C because it is in accordance with fuel characteristics standards according to the American Standard and Testing Materials (ASTM).