Valorization of Waste Agricultural Polyethylene Film by Sequential Pyrolysis and Catalytic Reforming

Abstract

This paper deals with the potential of using sequential pyrolysis and catalytic reforming for the conversion of agriculture film waste into useful hydrocarbon products. The experiments were conducted in a two-step reaction system consisting of a pyrolytic batch reactor (450 °C) connected in series to a secondary fixed bed reactor where the organic vapors were reformed at temperatures between 425 and 475 °C. Two conventional zeolites (HZSM-5 and Beta) and a mesostructured aluminosilicate Al-MCM-41 were used as catalysts in the reforming stage. Conversion values were not affected by the temperature in the reforming stage and remained fairly constant in all the experiments (89−92 wt %). In the absence of catalyst, the process generated a high proportion of hydrocarbons in the gasoline (C5−C12) and diesel (>C13) range (between 51 and 56 wt % and between 18 and 19 wt %, respectively) and a consequently lower amount of light hydrocarbon products (between 17 and 23 wt %), all of which consisted essentially of a ...