Highly efficient catalytic degradation of low-density polyethylene using a novel tungstophosphoric acid/kaolin clay composite catalyst

In order to take advantage of Bronsted acidity of tungstophosphoric acid(TPA) and Lewis acidity of kaolin, TPA loaded kaolin catalysts with varying percentages of TPA (10-50wt%) have been prepared by wet impregnation method. Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analyzer, and Scanning Electron Microscope characterizations were performed to confirm the successful loading of TPA onKaolin. Catalytic cracking of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), by employing our TPA loaded Kaolin as the catalyst, produced a higher percentage of fuel oil (liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons) with negligible amount of semisolid wax (1.0 wt.%), significantly lower compared to the thermal cracking which produced ~22wt.% solid black residue. Moreover, GCMS analysis of oil showed that thermal cracking produces mainly higher hydrocarbons(C22) as compared to the catalytic cracking where larger fraction oflowerhydrocarbons were obtained. We purpose that the higher performance of our catalysts was due to the presence of both Bronsted and Lewis acid sites, which increase their catalytic efficiency and degraded the LDPE at the relatively lower temperatures. Our results suggest that prepared materials were effectivecatalysts with low cost and easily scalable production method; suitable for large-scale highperformance catalytic cracking of LDPE based materials

Ceramic Stereolithography of Bioactive Glasses: Influence of Resin Composition on Curing Behavior and Green Body Properties

Herein we report on the preparation of a bioactive glass (BAG)-based photocurable resin for the additive manufacturing of BAG scaffolds with high filler loadings. The preparation of glass/ceramics resins for stereolithography with high filler loading is always a challenge, especially for fillers with a high refractive index variance. Various photocurable resin compositions with and without bioactive glass fillers have been investigated to see the influence of bioactive glass on physical properties of the resin and resulting green body. The effect of concentration of monomers, reactive diluent, light absorber (Sudan orange G dye), photoinitiator (PI), non-reactive diluent, and fillers (BAG) on rheology and photocuring behavior of the resin and tomography of the resulting 3D structures have been investigated. The BAG contents affect the rheology of resin and influence the rate of the polymerization reaction. The resin compositions with 55–60% BAG, 10% PEG-200 (diluent), 1% of PI and 0.015% of the dye were found to be suitable compositions for the stereolithographic fabrication. A higher percentage of PI caused over-curing, while a higher amount of dye decreased the cure depth of the resin. The micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of the resulting green bodies display a relatively dense glass scaffold without any visible cracks and good interlayer connection and surface finishing. These properties play an important role in the mechanical behavior of 3D scaffolds. This study will be helpful to prepare high density glass/ceramic slurries and optimize their printing properties

Catalytic Pyrolysis of Low Density Polyethylene Using Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Encapsulated Monovacant Keggin Units (C 19 H 42 N) 4 H 3 (PW 11 O 39 ) and ZSM-5

The effect of the catalysts on the pyrolysis of commercial low density polyethylene (LDPE) has been studied in a batch reactor. The thermal catalytic cracking of the LDPE has been done using cetyltrimethyl ammonium encapsulated monovacant keggin units (C 19 H 42 N) 4 H 3 (PW 11 O 39 ), labeled as CTA-POM and compared with the ZSM-5 catalyst. GC-MS results showed that catalytic cracking of LDPE beads generated oilier fraction over CTA-POM as compared to ZSM-5. Thus, the use of CTA-POM is more significant because it yields more useful fraction. It was also found that the temperature required for the thermal degradation of LDPE was lower when CTA-POM was used as a catalyst while high temperature was required for degradation over ZSM-5 catalyst. Better activity of CTA-POM was due to hydrophobic nature of CTA moiety which helps in catalyst mobility and increases its interaction with hydrocarbons

Catalytic Pyrolysis of Low Density Polyethylene Using Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Encapsulated Monovacant Keggin Units C19H42N4H3(PW11O39) and ZSM-5

The effect of the catalysts on the pyrolysis of commercial low density polyethylene (LDPE) has been studied in a batch reactor. The thermal catalytic cracking of the LDPE has been done using cetyltrimethyl ammonium encapsulated monovacant keggin units (C19H42N)4H3(PW11O39), labeled as CTA-POM and compared with the ZSM-5 catalyst. GC-MS results showed that catalytic cracking of LDPE beads generated oilier fraction over CTA-POM as compared to ZSM-5. Thus, the use of CTA-POM is more significant because it yields more useful fraction. It was also found that the temperature required for the thermal degradation of LDPE was lower when CTA-POM was used as a catalyst while high temperature was required for degradation over ZSM-5 catalyst. Better activity of CTA-POM was due to hydrophobic nature of CTA moiety which helps in catalyst mobility and increases its interaction with hydrocarbons

Highly efficient catalytic pyrolysis of polyethylene waste to derive fuel products by novel polyoxometalate/kaolin composites

This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.We report here alumina-substituted Keggin tungstoborate/kaolin clay composite materials (KAB/kaolin) as polyethylene cracking catalysts. KAB/kaolin composites with varying concentrations of KAB (10–50 wt.%) were synthesized by the wet impregnation method and successfully characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analytical techniques. Use of KAB loaded kaolin composites as the catalyst for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) cracking exhibited a higher percentage of polymer conversion (99%), producing 84 wt.% of fuel oil and negligible amount (˂ 1 wt.%) of solid residue while thermal cracking produced ~22 wt.% residue. Furthermore, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of oil obtained by non-catalytic cracking exhibited a high selectivity to high molecular weight hydrocarbons (C13–C23) compared to the catalytic cracking where 70 mol.% of gasoline range hydrocarbons (C5–C12) were produced. We propose that higher cracking ability of our prepared catalysts might ensue from both Brønsted and Lewis acid sites (from KAB and kaolin respectively), which enhanced the yield of liquid fuel products and reduced the cracking temperature of LDPE. These findings suggest that the prepared composites were cost-effective and excellent cracking catalysts that could be recommended for highly efficient conversion of waste plastic materials to petrochemicals at an industrial scale

In situ synthesis of copper nanoparticles on SBA-16 silica spheres

A chemical method for in situ synthesis of copper nanoparticles on SBA-16 silica spheres under ambient conditions has been reported. The silica support has been introduced into copper precursor solution before chemical reduction. Metal ions diffuse into mesopores (pore diameter 5–7 nm) of silica where in situ reduction by hydrazine leads to formation of nanoparticles. These mesopores act as nanoreactor and their walls prevent metal particle’s agglomeration by providing a physical barrier. The obtained copper nanoparticles have been investigated by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform Infra-red spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyzer. SEM, TEM and UV–Visible spectroscopic images revealed that nanosized particles have been successfully synthesized by this method. Thermogravimetric investigations revealed that copper nanoparticles impregnated on silica were thermally more stable compared to unsupported nanoparticles. Silica not only helps in maintaining the particle size but also makes nanoparticles stable at high temperatures due to its thick pore walls. Macro sized silica support also makes separation/handling of nanoparticles easy and simple

Fe-POM/ attapulgite composite materials: efficient catalysts for plastic pyrolysis

This article describes the catalytic cracking of low-density polyethylene over attapulgite clay and iron substituted tungstophosphate/attapulgite clay (Fe-POM/attapulgite) composite materials to evaluate their suitability and performance for recycling of plastic waste into liquid fuel. The prepared catalysts enhanced the yield of liquid fuel (hydrocarbons) produced in cracking process. A maximum yield of 82% liquid oil fraction with a negligible amount of coke was obtained for 50% Fe-POM/attapulgite composite. Whereas, only 68% liquid oil fractions with a large amount of solid black residue was produced in case of non-catalytic pyrolysis. Moreover, Fe-POM/attapulgite clay composites showed higher selectivity towards lower hydrocarbons (C5–C12) with aliphatic hydrocarbons as major fractions. These synthesised composite catalysts significantly lowered the pyrolysis temperature from 375°C to 310°C. Hence, recovery of valuable fuel oil from polyethylene using these synthesised catalysts suggested their applicability for energy production from plastic waste at industrial level as well as for effective environment pollution control