Pyrolysis of polystyrene plastic waste using bentonite catalyst

Abstract

Polystyrene is one type of plastic that is widely used in industrially and daily life. Polystyrene properties are difficult to be degraded by nature. Hence it produces a problem for the environment. Pyrolysis of polystyrene waste is one of methods for plastic recycling. Pyrolysis polystyrene in a batch reactor for the recovery of styrene monomers (C8H8). This study aims to investigate the effect of bentonite in catalytic pyrolysis of polystyrene waste. Pyrolysis was carried out at a temperature of 300-550°C in a batch reactor with a mixture of polystyrene waste and catalyst of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% of polystyrene. The liquid product was analyzed using GC-MS to determine the components. The maximum yield of liquid product was obtained at 88.78% (wt%), using 25% of catalyst. The result of liquid analysis by GC-MS contains styrene compounds (C8H8), Toluene, Benzene, were the major components. Pyrolysis with a catalyst weight of 25% and temperature of 400°C obtained the maximum yield of styrene compounds (C8H8) at 32.34%.