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

Attique, S., Batool, M., Goerke, O., Abbas, G., Saeed, F. A., Din, M. I., Jalees, I., Ahmad, I., Gregory, D. H. and Shah, A. T. (2022) Fe-POM/ attapulgite composite materials: efficient catalysts for plastic pyrolysis. Waste Management and Research, 40(9), pp. 1433-1439. (doi: 10.1177/0734242X221080084) (PMID:35243944)

Abstract

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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Higher Education Commission of Pakistan is greatly acknowledged for the grant of Indigenous PhD Scholarship (PIN No. 213-66412-2PS2-074). The authors are also thankful to Higher Education Commission for NRPU project grant (6776/NRPU/R&D/HEC) to complete this research work.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Attique, Saira and Gregory, Professor Duncan
• Authors: Attique, S., Batool, M., Goerke, O., Abbas, G., Saeed, F. A., Din, M. I., Jalees, I., Ahmad, I., Gregory, D. H., and Shah, A. T.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Waste Management and Research
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 0734-242X
• ISSN (Online): 1096-3669
• Published Online: 04 March 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Waste Management and Research 40(9): 1433-1439
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy