Thermolysis and hydrogenolysis of polyethylene under steam pressure

Abstract

AbstractThermolysis and hydrogenolysis of polyethylene under steam pressure were carried out by batchwise autoclave in the recovery of liquid petrochemical resources from waste polymers. Thermolysis of polyethylene under steam pressure occurred in the temperature range 400–475°C and reaction pressures up to 213 bar. The presence of steam is advantageous for an increase in liquid products and 450°C is an appropriate temperature for the formation of low molecular aromatic compounds. Hydrogenolysis of polyethylene was studied at 450°C and initial hydrogen pressure range of 10–100 bar under steam pressure. Over 80 wt % of the low‐boiling product was converted to saturated hydrocarbons at 40 bar hydrogen pressure, which corresponds to 1 mole hydrogen to 1 mole monomeric unit of polyethylene. The schemes for the thermolysis and the hydrogenolysis, especially the aromatization, are discussed.