TEST TO SCREEN CATALYSTS FOR REFORMING HEAVY OIL FROM WASTE PLASTICS

A method which combines pyrolysis and catalytic reforming is a more efficient and pollution-free recovery method for processing large amounts of waste plastics than a combustion-based process. Several solid acid catalysts such as HY, rare earth metal-exchanged Y-type (REY), and HZSM-5 zeolites and silica-alumina (SA) were used for catalytic reforming of heavy oil produced by pyrolysis of waste polyethylene, to yield gasoline. REY zeolite was found to be the most suitable catalyst for the reaction having the highest research octane number (RON) of 67 and a gasoline yield of 48 wt.-%. In contrast, high siliceous and ordinary HZSM-5 zeolites gave the lowest RON value (23) and gasoline yield (18 wt.-%), respectively.