CATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF POLYETHYLENE TO GAS OIL USING SYNTHESIZED CLAY BASED COPPER MODIFIED CATALYST
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015-08-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MINNA
Abstract
In this study local clay was pretreated, characterized, modified and used as catalyst for the degradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE). The raw clay was thermally treated at 800C for 4 h in a furnace which was later modified by incorporating copper into it through impregnation method. The functionalities of the catalyst were determined based on their characterization. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscope, X-ray florescence and surface area determination were done for both the raw clay and modified catalysts. Characterization of the catalysts revealed that the interaction between CuO/clay formed a synergistic mixed oxides and this is an important factor to its activity. The product obtained was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and the product was mainly composed of hydrocarbons in the carbon range C16-C25 which is the hydrocarbon range of gas oil (diesel) fraction. also the data obtained showed that that that at catalyst loading of 1.0 g of polyethylene feed-stock and reaction temperature of 250c, the yield of gas oil was 50.22%. The catalyst was easily separated from the product mixture.
Description
Keywords
Degradation, polyethylene, impregnation, Characterization, Gas oil
Citation
1