Catalytic degradation of polypropylene over alumina loaded mesoporous catalysts

Abstract

The catalytic thermal degradation of polypropylene over aluminum containing ordered mesoporous MCM-41 and SBA-15 based materials was studied in a semi-batch reactor. Heavier molecules degraded to lighter hydrocarbons in the presence of catalysts and they gave high ethylene selectivity among the gaseous products. Additionally, butane selectivity increased with the use of catalysts. SBA-type catalysts showed higher selectivity to lighter hydrocarbons (<C14). C7 selectivity among the liquid products was high when aluminum isopropoxide was used in the synthesis of catalysts and C18 selectivity increased significantly when aluminum nitrate was used in the synthesis of MCM-type catalysts.