Low Temperature Catalytic Pyrolysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate

Abstract

Low temperature pyroylsis of polyethylene terepthalate (PET) was studied by adapting a pressure cooking pot of height 30.00 cm with an lnternal diameter of 31.50 cm. The pyrolysis reaction was done using fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst. The gases evolved during the pyrolysis reaction were collected in tedlar bags and analysis was done using a Buck 530 gas chromatogram. The pyrolysis reaction with fresh fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst at 150 C and 250 C using catalyst / sample ratio of 1:8 showed aliphatic hydrocarbons in the range of C1 – C10 with a total concentration of 485.8220 and 100.2732 ppm respectively. The corresponding values obtained at 150 C and 250 C using catalyst/sample ratio of 1:16 were 157.3500 and 84.1590 ppm respectively. The pyrolysis reaction with spent FCC catalyst at 150 C and 250 C using catalyst/sample ratio of 1:8 gave the following total concentrations 91.6869 and 81.6393 ppm respectively. The corresponding values obtained at 150 C and 250 C using catalyst/sample ratio of 1:16 were 210.2899 and 123.7272 ppm respectively. Fuel gases, gasoline range products and other organic gases were obtained even when the reaction took place at lower temperatures thereby minimizing the cost of energy.