Recovery of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels from Polypropylene Waste Plastics via Catalytic Pyrolysis

Tihitna Abebe; Belete Tessema Asfaw

Abstract

Process of pyrolysis is a thermo-chemical method conducted at high temperatures and usually in presence of catalysts. Dissimilar type of natural and synthetic catalysts are used for alteration of organic wastes into cherished fuels. The aim of this work is conversion of waste production of liquid fuel using catalyst that produced from rice husk ash. Waste plastic was pyrolyzed at temperature range 430-470oC and obtained products were liquid fuel, gas and solid residue. The product vintages were studied with the controlled temperature, time and catalyst amount. High conversion of liquid from catalytic pyrolysis of polypropylene plastic waste was achieved at 450°C with the use of 12.5gm catalyst amount, at 30 minutes pyrolysis time. Raw waste plastics were analyzed by FTIR. The FTIR spectrum indicates there was a presence of Naphtalenes, Olefins, and Amine, Acid group in PP plastic type. The liquid fractions that had high yield were analyzed by GC/MS. The results showed that the waste plastics of polypropylene liquid oil consisted of a range of hydrocarbon mainly in Gasoline range (C5-C12). The liquid fraction that had high yield for PP plastic type were also analyzed for fuel properties. From the study, liquid oil from PP waste with the Yield of (44.7%), had a density (0.827g/cm3), viscosity (2.06cSt) and a higher value of flash point (29oC) and calorific value (25mJ/Kg).

Abstract

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