Study on the Catalytic Effect of Nitric Acid Activated Myanmar Natural Clay for the Degradation of Plastic Wastes

Abstract

In this study, the performance of different acid treated Myanmar Natural Clay (Mabisian) was conducted the pyrolysis of mixed plastic wastes, 40% high density polyethylene, 30% polypropylene, 25% low density polyethylene and 5% polystyrene. Mabisian clay was refluxed with different concentration of nitric acid (2M, 4M, 6M, 8M, 10M, 12M and 14M) at 100ºC for 3hrs followed by calcination at 500ºC for 1hr. The physico-chemical characteristics of resulted leached clay were studied by X-Ray Fluoresence spectroscopy (XRF), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The pyrolytic oil was characterized by Gas Chromatography – mass spectopy (GC-MS). XRF and FTIR studies indicated that acid treatment under reflux condition lead to the removal of octahedral Al3+ cations along with other impurities. The chemical treatment increased the Si/Al ratio. The maximum liquid yield (75%) was obtained at 12 M nitric acid, 3hr reaction time and 100 º C reaction temperatures. In addition, the percent peak area of gasoline range hydrocarbon was obtained 55.6% at optimum condition. Thus, the treated clay can be used as promising as catalyst support.