Efficient upgrading of polyolefin plastics into C5–C12 gasoline alkanes over a Pt/W/Beta catalyst?

Sustainable Energy & Fuels Pub Date: 2021-11-25 DOI: 10.1039/D1SE01778K

Abstract

A Pt/W/Beta catalyst was developed for direct and efficient hydrogenolysis of low density polyethylene (LDPE) into C5–C12 gasoline alkanes with a high yield of 63.6 wt% (yield of C1–C13 light alkanes is 94.0 wt%) at 250 °C and 3.0 MPa H2 within 1.0 h. The obtained gasoline alkanes have a narrow carbon number distribution and contain abundant mono-branched isomers, which were attributed to well-dispersed Pt species and proximity of the cooperating active sites, especially the moderate acidity upon the introduction of 0.5 wt% tungsten species. The catalyst was also applicable to hydrogenolysis of light low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) to obtain the valuable gasoline alkanes (C5–C12) in high yield (50.8–73.5 wt%). The C–C bond cleavage of plastics over the Pt/W/Beta catalyst was found to occur through medium to long-chain hydrocarbons (n-Cx, x > 13) based on experiments performed using docosane (n-C22 alkane) as the model feedstock.

Graphical abstract: Efficient upgrading of polyolefin plastics into C5–C12 gasoline alkanes over a Pt/W/Beta catalyst
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