International Research Journal of Environment Sciences________________________________ ISSN 23191414

Vol. 4(7), 24-28, July (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci.

Use of Catalyst in Pyrolysis of Polypropylene Waste into Liquid Fuel

Sonawane YB, Shindikar MR and Khaladkar MY
Department of Applied Science, College of Engineering, Pune, 411005, INDIA
Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me
Received 16th April 2015, revised 22nd May 2015, accepted 14th June 2015
Abstract
Pyrolysis of polypropylene (PP) waste was carried out by developing lab scale borosilicate glass reactor of one litre
capacity. Reactions were carried out by using about 200 grams of PP waste. The nitrogen gas was purged in required
quantity in the reactor to create pyrolytic condition. The maximum temperature in a reactor was kept about 4500C.
Reactions were carried out with and without using natural zeolite (NZ) as a catalyst. It was found that, time required for
completion of the pyrolysis process was 90 minutes without catalyst and 65 minutes with natural zeolite. Results showed
that in absence of catalyst, process gives about 80.82% of liquid fuel and in presence of 10 % natural zeolite, about 86.40
% yield is obtained. It is observed that by using natural zeolite, oil percent can be enhanced and one can obtain high
calorific value fuel than that of oil without catalyst. GC-MS results of oil samples showed presence of petroleum fractions
(C5-C20) with some high molecular weight fractions from C20-C30.

Keywords: Catalyst, pyrolysis, polypropylene, natural zeolite, calorific value, GC-MS.

Introduction industries as an alternative fuel for running boilers, generators,

Plastics are made up of long chain molecules called polymers1.
They are light weight polymers of carbon along with hydrogen,
nitrogen, sulphur and other organic and inorganic elements. The
main drawbacks for utility of plastics are they are manufactured
from fossil fuel which is a non-renewable source and their non -
biodegradable nature2-3.
Plastic waste pollution is increasing day by day in developed
and developing countries because of their non-biodegradable
nature. In India, plastic waste generated per day is about ten
thousand tons that of total municipal solid waste4. Due to
improper segregation and recycling system for these plastic
wastes, load on landfill sites increases which ultimately cause
environmental pollution and affects marine biodiversity5.
Thermoplastic waste mainly consists of polyethylene
terephthalate, high density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, low
density polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. For food
packaging, generally polyethylene and polypropylene materials
are used. As polypropylene is more resistant to heat, harder,
denser and more transparent than polyethylene, it is used for
microwavable packaging and sauce or salad dressing bottles6.
These types of thermoplastic waste can be recycled by using
different methods like mechanical recycling, chemical
recycling, incineration, pyrolysis etc.
Pyrolysis is one of the recycling options for plastic waste which
involves heating of organic material at elevated temperature in
absence of oxygen7. It is one of the best methods to reduce load
of plastic waste on available landfills. It converts plastic waste
into different petroleum fractions which can be used in many
and turbines. By using suitable catalyst, process yield can be
enhanced and reaction time can be minimized which ultimately
achieves efficiency in the process.
Production of hydrogen and carbon nanotubes is possible by
catalytic pyrolysis of waste polypropylene8. Pyrolysis of
polypropylene waste material gives petroleum fuel grade liquid
product without using catalyst9-10. Catalytic cracking of
polypropylene (PP) waste by using zeolite beta (BEA) catalyst
enhances percent of oil as compared to that of without
catalyst11. Use of synthesized catalysts from fly ash also gives
good results in pyrolysis process of plastic waste12. Kaolin
catalyst found effective for thermo degradation of
polypropylene waste for conversion into fuel13. Some authors
studied pyrolysis process for converting mixture of waste tyre
and polypropylene into petroleum fuel by using ZnO as a
catalyst14. Present research work focuses on use of natural
zeolite catalyst in pyrolysis of polypropylene waste into liquid
fuel.
Material and Methods
In present research study, experiments were performed without
catalyst and by using 10 percent of natural zeolite.
Polypropylene waste was collected from canteens, mess, ice-
cream parlors etc. Washing, shredding and drying was done
manually. Waste quantity of about 200 gram was used as a
feedstock for reaction. Natural zeolite was selected as a catalyst
due to its cost effectiveness, easy availability and chemical
properties. It was heated upto 2000C in an oven for an hour to
remove impurities.

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International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 23191414
Vol. 4(7), 24-28, July (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci.

The whole pyrolysis reactor set up has following parts: i.

Nitrogen gas cylinder ii. heating mantle iii. Borosilicate glass
reactor with recovery bend iv. Thermocouple with temperature
indicator v. Condenser and vi. Collection flask.

Before starting reaction, 200 grams shredded plastic waste was

fed into a reactor and nitrogen gas was purged into it for 5
seconds with pressure of 5kgf/cm2 to make pyrolytic condition.
Reactions were carried out at maximum temperature of 4500C.
Vapours generated after depolymerisation of material were
passed through condenser and oil obtained was collected in a
flask. Uncondensed gases produced during the experiment were
passed in cold water bath.

Figure-3
Oil obtained by pyrolysis without catalyst

Figure-1
Polypropylene plastic waste

Figure-4
Oil obtained by pyrolysis with 10 % NZ

Results and Discussion

Polypropylene waste started melting at temperature about
1350C. So melting point was recorded 1350C. Pure
polypropylene material has a melting point of about 1300C.
Small difference in melting point may be due to presence of
additives and other materials in polypropylene waste. The
maximum yield was observed at a temperature range of about
400 to 4500C. Process required 25 minutes to start receiving
distillate in a collection flask without using catalyst whereas by
using NZ process required only 20 minutes. In absence of
catalyst about 90 minutes were required to complete the process
and with the help of NZ, it has been completed in 65 minutes
only.

Percent oil obtained by pyrolysis process with and without

Figure-2 catalyst was calculated by using following formula:
Pyrolysis reactor set up for plastic waste recycling

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International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 23191414
Vol. 4(7), 24-28, July (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci.

Oil obtained in grams minimized which ultimately saves energy required for the
Percent oil obtained = 100 process.
Weight of plastic waste taken

Specific gravity of oil samples were determined by using Table-1

specific gravity bottle. Calorific value of oil samples Digital Percent yield of oil and wax obtained without catalyst and
bomb calorimeter with make model RSB-3 by Rico Scientific with 10 % NZ
was used to determine calorific value of obtained oil samples in Oil Wax Reaction
PP Material
the process. obtained obtained time
(200 g)
(%) (%) (Minutes)
GC make model Agilent-7890, with FID detector was used and Without
80.82 18.64 90
MS make model Jeol Accu TOF GCV with mass range 10-2000 catalyst
amu and mass resolution 6000 was used. Results showed With 10 % NZ
86.41 11.34 65
presence of gasoline, kerosene and diesel fractions with some catalyst
higher molecular weight fractions.
Table-2
Table-1 displays values of oil and wax percent obtained for PP Calorific values of oil with and without catalyst
and reaction time required for the process in absence of catalyst PP Calorific value (KJ/Kg)
and by using NZ. PP without catalyst 25794
PP with 10 % NZ 27167
In absence of catalyst, oil obtained from the process is about
80% and with the help of 10 % NZ, process gives about 86% Table-2 Displays calorific values of oil samples in absence of
oil. With 10 % natural zeolite, time span for completion of NZ and with NZ. Increase in calorific value of oil with NZ
process is reduced by 25 minutes with that of in absence of catalyst broadens its applications as an energy source.
catalyst. By using natural zeolite, yield percent and physical
appearance can be enhanced and time required can be

C:\XCALIBUR\...\Data\EXT_E01CEP_PPWC 4/5/2014 6:22:43 PM

RT: 0.00 - 31.01

4.17 NL:
100 3.80E9
90 TIC MS
EXT_E01C
80 EP_PPWC
Relative Abundance

70
60
10.94 11.19
50
40 7.66
30 13.74 14.62 16.22 16.57
4.44 20.35 22.18
20 3.25 11.90 23.47
8.73 19.38
4.83 6.55 23.01
10 3.15 9.07 12.13 14.92 17.57 24.90
5.86 25.07 26.83 28.46 29.75
0 r
MXU\J >1T r r l i r
T i T I I 1 T i T T T i i
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
Time (min)

EXT_E01CEP_PPWC #77 RT: 4.17 AV: 1 NL: 7.00E8

T: + c Full ms [50.00-500.00]
55.02 70.10
100

80
Relative Abundance

60

83.10
40

126.11
20
84.12
111.06 127.16 153.19 167.17 193.09 207.11
85.14 239.55 267.17 281.10 328.39 341.23 354.97 386.86 418.31 442.77 457.56 490.80
i.
0 T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
m/z

Figure-5
GC-MS of oil sample without catalyst

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International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 23191414
Vol. 4(7), 24-28, July (2015) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci.

C:\Xcalibur\...\Data\EXT_E01CEP_PPNZ10 4/5/2014 5:01:53 PM

RT: 0.00 - 31.01

4.17 NL:
100 3.81E9
90 TIC MS
EXT_E01C
80 EP_PPNZ1
Relative Abundance

70 0

60
50 10.94 11.19

40
7.66
30 4.44 16.22 16.58
13.74
14.62 20.35 22.18
20 3.23 11.90 17.17
8.73 19.38 23.47
10 4.83 6.55
3.14 9.07 12.13 14.94 17.57 24.31 25.07
26.83 28.49 29.20
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
Time (min)

EXT _E01CEP_PPNZ10 #77 RT : 4.17 AV: 1 NL: 7.43E8

T : + c Full ms [50.00-500.00]
55.02
100
70.10

80
Relative Abundance

60

83.10
40

20 126.10
84.13
85.14 111.12 127.16 153.11 193.15 207.02 241.30 267.02 281.23 295.43 328.07 357.09 367.47 397.18 415.85 432.26 460.97 474.66 491.16
0
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
m/z

Figure-6
GC-MS plot for oil sample with 10% natural zeolite

GC-MS plot of oil samples obtained without catalyst and by References

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Vol. 4(7), 24-28, July (2015)
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