Babatunde, Esther Olubunmi2022-02-212022-02-212015-08-011https://uilspace.unilorin.edu.ng/handle/20.500.12484/7608In 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.enDegradationpolyethyleneimpregnationCharacterizationGas oilArticle