Direct liquefaction of waste plastics and coliquefaction of waste plastics with coal

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the liquefaction reactions of polyethylene (PE), commingled waste plastic, coliquefaction reactions of PE, polypropylene (PPE), and Black Thunder sub-bituminous coal. Several different catalysts are used in these studies. The results established that a solid acid catalyst is highly active for the liquefaction of the plastics alone, typically giving oil yields of 80–95% and total conversions of 90–100% at temperatures of 430–450 °C. In the co liquefaction experiments, 50:50 mixtures of plastic and coal are used with a tetralin solvent. Using 1% of the solid acid catalyst and a nanoscale iron catalyst, oil yields of 50–70%, and total conversions of 80–90% are typical.