CATALYTIC DECOMPOSITION OF POLYETHYLENE USING A TUBULAR FLOW REACTOR SYSTEM

Catalytic decomposition of polyethylene (PE) was carried out with a flow reactor (370 mm × 27 mm) and a batch reactor, and the results were compared to clarify the polymer decomposition process during gasification. The decomposition of PE was not found to occur directly from polymer and oligomer chain ends but from the liquid fraction (MW = 200-400). In the presence of a catalyst, conversion to gas at 430 °C in the flow reactor was 72.0 wt%, while in non-catalytic thermal degradation, it was 7.0 wt%. The catalytic decomposition of PE occurred by the following process, in which the concentration of gasification precursors and their backbone branchings are fundamental factors: polymer → thermally decomposed oligomer → catalytically decomposed low molecular weight components (gasification precursor, liquid fraction) → gas. © 1990.