Catalytic upgrading of polyethylene plastic waste using GMOF catalyst: Morphology, pyrolysis, and product analysisShow others and affiliations
2024 (English)In: Fuel, ISSN 0016-2361, E-ISSN 1873-7153, Vol. 369, article id 131742Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Since 2000, global plastic waste production and consumption have doubled, escalating from 250 to 500 million tonnes. Merely 9 % of plastic waste undergoes global recycling, leaving the majority either in landfills or poorly managed. This research introduces a new catalyst, GMOF, created by growing Metal-Organic Framework (MOFs) rods on the flaked, carpet-like structure of Graphene Oxide (GO) nanosheets. The aim is to enhance the quality of pyrolysis products derived from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste using this GMOF catalyst. HDPE and LDPE, sourced from post-consumer plastic packaging, underwent specific treatment involving cleaning, drying, and shredding. Morphological and property evaluations of GO nanosheets before and after MOF decoration employed techniques including Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Flash pyrolysis at 500 °C for 1 min using a sample-to-catalyst ratio of 4:1 in a Quartz Wool Matrix (QWM) reactor was conducted via a Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) and Frontier LAB pyrolizers. Thermal stability and characteristics of feedstocks and catalysts were assessed using TGA. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analyzed and quantified pyrolysis product compounds, while a Micro GC Fusion system determined non-condensable pyrolyzate permanent gas distribution. Results showcased that the GMOF catalyst’s unique morphology efficiently captured smaller radicals on its surface, providing increased surface area for effective radical–radical interactions during pyrolysis. In HDPE pyrolysis, the GMOF catalyst notably decreased selectivity of C21-C40 and C40 + wax fractions to 49.07 % and 7.73 %, respectively, while boosting C1-C20 olefin production by 2.54 %. Conversely, LDPE pyrolysis with the GMOF catalyst notably amplified the CO2 peak intensity by 3.17 %, signifying a gasification phase. Primary gases produced were C3 aliphatic hydrocarbons, propane, and propylene, yielding 79.46 % collectively.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV , 2024. Vol. 369, article id 131742
Keywords [en]
Biofuels, Catalyst selectivity, Crystalline materials, Enamels, Energy dispersive spectroscopy, Field emission microscopes, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Gas chromatography, High density polyethylenes, Mass spectrometry, Morphology, Nanosheets, Organometallics, Pyrolysis, Scanning electron microscopy, Catalytic upgrading, Graphene oxide nanosheet, High-density polyethylenes, Metalorganic frameworks (MOFs), Plastics waste, Polyethylene density, Polyethylene plastics, Pyrolysis products, Thermogravimetric analyzers, ]+ catalyst, Graphene
National Category
Materials Chemistry Polymer Technologies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-73268DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2024.131742Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85191011142OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ri-73268DiVA, id: diva2:1865289
Note
This work was funded by the NSERC Discovery Grant. The authors wish to thank supporting organizations, The Ontario Ministry of Agri- culture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Biomass Canada of Bio- FuelNet Canada Network (Project Number: ASC-16), Anaergia Inc, and the University of Guelph for ongoing HQP training support.
2024-06-042024-06-042025-04-14Bibliographically approved