Pyrolysis Process of Mixed Polypropylene (PP) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Waste with Natural Zeolite as Catalyst

Emi Erawati,Annisa Ayu Ilma,Hamid Hamid

doi:10.20884/1.jm.2018.13.2.400

Abstract

The reactor of the experiment was made from stainless steel with the diameter of 25 cm and the height of 30 cm. The liquid petroleum gas was used as a fuel in the reactor. The reactor was connected by the thermocouple that controls temperature variations at 410, 420, 430, and 450ºC. Raw material contained plastic bottles and waste caps, while the natural zeolite as a catalyst was dried and cut in dimensions of 3x3 cm. A gas as the reacted product was condensed using the first condenser, then the liquid product was collected. Uncondensed gaswas condensed again in the second condenser, then the liquid product was collected again. The volume of gas was calculated based on the water volume coming out of the gallon. Thiswas repeated with varied ratios of plastics to natural zeolite (67:33; 75:25; 80:20; and 83:17 wt%). Pyrolysis was run for two hours and every 20 minutes the sample was weighed to gauge the change inmass of gas and liquid. After 120 minutes, the solid sample was examined to identify the mass of final solid. Based on the research, at the temperature of 440ºC, the highest liquid yield was 68.42%. On the other hand, with the ratio of raw material to zeolite at 83:17 wt%, the largest yield of liquid was 87.31%. The liquid product in various temperature and comparisons of percentage of raw material to catalyst was found to meet diesel specifications based on The Decree of Director General of Fuels and Gas Year 200,8 Number 14,496 K/14/DJM/2,008.

Highlights

Plastic has played a vital role in enhancing the living standards of human beings for more than 50 years
The aims of research are to investigate the influence of the rate of temperature and raw material to natural zeolite on gas, liquid, and solid yields in the pyrolysis of mixed between PP and highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) and to identify the physical properties of fuel, namely its specific gravity, API gravity, gross heating value, flash point, pour point, and kinematic viscosity
The changes in gas volume over time and the percentage of raw material and catalyst are shown in Figure 4(a) and (b)

Summary

Introduction

Plastic has played a vital role in enhancing the living standards of human beings for more than 50 years. The aims of research are to investigate the influence of the rate of temperature and raw material to natural zeolite (wt%) on gas, liquid, and solid yields in the pyrolysis of mixed between PP and HDPE and to identify the physical properties of fuel, namely its specific gravity, API gravity, gross heating value, flash point, pour point, and kinematic viscosity. The changes in gas volume over time and the percentage of raw material and catalyst are shown in Figure 4(a) and (b).

Results

Conclusion