<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Thermal degradation of the low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and the municipal waste plastics was investigated. The thermo-catalytic degradation of LDPE and PP was studied in the presence of the following catalysts: four different types of montmorillonite: K5, K10, K20, K30 and - for comparison - zeolites (natural - clinoptilolite, YNa+ and YH+). Thermal analyses TG-DTA-MS of polymers and polymer-catalyst mixtures were carried out in an argon flow atmosphere in isothermal and dynamic conditions. The following order was found: in lowering the reaction temperature for LDPE degradation YH+ > mK5 > mK20 = mK30 >mK10 > NZ > YNa+; for PP degradation: mK20 > mK5 = mK30 >mK10 > YH+ > NZ > YNa+. The activity tests were carried out in a stainless steel batch reactor under atmospheric pressure in a wide temperature range of up to 410°C, and using the atmosphere of argon flow. The liquid products were analysed by the GC-MS method. The hydrocarbons in the liquid products from thermal degradation of polymers were broadly distributed in the carbon fractions of C8 to C26 - for LDPE and C6 to C31 for PP.</abstract>

Thermal degradation of the low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and the municipal waste plastics was investigated. The thermo-catalytic degradation of LDPE and PP was studied in the presence of the following catalysts: four different types of montmorillonite: K5, K10, K20, K30 and - for comparison - zeolites (natural - clinoptilolite, YNa+ and YH+). Thermal analyses TG-DTA-MS of polymers and polymer-catalyst mixtures were carried out in an argon flow atmosphere in isothermal and dynamic conditions. The following order was found: in lowering the reaction temperature for LDPE degradation YH+ > mK5 > mK20 = mK30 >mK10 > NZ > YNa+; for PP degradation: mK20 > mK5 = mK30 >mK10 > YH+ > NZ > YNa+. The activity tests were carried out in a stainless steel batch reactor under atmospheric pressure in a wide temperature range of up to 410°C, and using the atmosphere of argon flow. The liquid products were analysed by the GC-MS method. The hydrocarbons in the liquid products from thermal degradation of polymers were broadly distributed in the carbon fractions of C8 to C26 - for LDPE and C6 to C31 for PP.

Thermal and thermo-catalytic degradation of polyolefins as a simple and efficient method of landfill clearing

Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Technical University of Lodz, ul. Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Łódź, Poland

Polish Journal of Chemical Technology

Thermal degradation of the low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and the municipal waste plastics was investigated. The thermo-catalytic...

Thermal and thermo-catalytic degradation of polyolefins as a simple and efficient method of landfill clearing

Published Online: Sep 27, 2010

Page range: 50 - 57

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10026-010-0034-x

Keywords
Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins, municipal waste plastics, thermal degradation, thermocatalytic degradation, liquid fuels component, kinetics

This content is open access.

Thermal and thermo-catalytic degradation of polyolefins as a simple and efficient method of landfill clearing

Published Online: Sep 27, 2010

Page range: 50 - 57

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10026-010-0034-x

KeywordsPolyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins, municipal waste plastics, thermal degradation, thermocatalytic degradation, liquid fuels component, kinetics

This content is open access.

Keywords
Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins, municipal waste plastics, thermal degradation, thermocatalytic degradation, liquid fuels component, kinetics