Fuel Production from LDPE Plastic Waste over Natural Zeolite Supported Ni, Ni-Mo, Co and Co-Mo Metals

Abstract

Hydrocracking of LDPE plastics into fuel over bi-functional catalysts was systematically studied. The natural zeolite from Sukabumi, Indonesia was refluxed in HCl 6N for 30minutes and dried in an oven, then the activated natural zeolite (Z) was produced. This study found that natural zeolite obtained from Sukabumi which consists of the mordenite type crystalline. For bi- functional catalysts, Ni, Ni-Mo, Co and Co-Mo metals were loaded into the activated natural zeolite respectively to increase the activity and selectivity for hydrocracking process. The catalyst samples were heated in a microwave and done the reduction by hydrogen gas stream, produced Ni/Z, Ni-Mo/Z, Co/Z and Co-Mo/Z. Hydrocracking process was carried out effectively at 350°C with 20mL/minutes of hydrogen gas stream for 1 hour of reaction time. Conversion of LDPE plastic waste over Co-Mo/Z at 350°C produced the higher selectivity of gasoline, reached 71.49%. Based on the GCMS data, liquid yield consisted of hydrocarbon compounds with atom chain of C6 until C19 that indicate fuel chemical structures, such as paraffins, olefins, and naphthenes. By using this technology, the conversion of plastic waste into fuel is expected to reduce the environmental pollution, support the use of soil, and increase the energy storage.