Degradation of polyethylene and polypropylene into fuel oil by using solid acid and non-acid catalysts

The effects of catalysts types on plastic degradation were studied by following the catalytic degradation of polyethylene (PE) polypropylene (PP) over various types of solid acid catalysts such as silica-alumina, zeolite and non-acidic mesoporous silica catalysts (silicalite, amorphous mesoporous silica gel and crystalline mesoporous folded silica material (FSM). Product yields, the recovery rate of liquid products, and the boiling point distribution of liquid products from catalytic degradation were compared with those of non catalytic thermal degradation. Life tests of the acid catalyst SA-1 and non-acid silica (FSM) catalyst were performed through repeated use of these catalysts in PE and PP degradation. Finally, the results obtained are detailed.