Fuels by Waste Plastics Using Activated Carbon, MCM-41, HZSM-5 and Their Mixture

¹ Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering Institute, MOL Department of Hydrocarbon and Coal, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, 10 Egyetem u., 8200, Hungary
² Energy Research Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
³ School of Engineering, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK

Abstract

Waste material was pyrolyzed in a horizontal tubular reactor at 530-540°C using different catalysts, such as activated carbon, MCM-41, HZSM-5 and their mixtures. Products were investigated by gas-chromatography, EDXRFS and standardized methods. Catalysts significantly affected the yields of volatiles; e.g. HZSM-5 catalyst increased especially the yield of gaseous hydrocarbons, while MCM-41 catalyst was responsible for increasing the pyrolysis oil yield. Synergistic effects were found using mixtures of different catalysts. Furthermore the catalysts modified the main carbon frame of the products. Pyrolysis oil obtained over HZSM-5 catalyst contained large amounts of aromatics, while MCM-41 catalyst mainly isomerized the carbon frame. Regarding contaminants it was concluded, that the sulphur content could be significantly decreased by activated carbon, however it had only a slight effect to the other properties of the products.