The Effects of Polyolefin Structure and Source on Pyrolysis-Derived Plastic Oil Composition

Wu, Jiayang; Jiang, Zhen; Cecon, Victor S.; Curtzwiler, Greg W.; Huber, George W.; Vorst, Keith L.; Mavrikakis, Manos

doi:10.1039/d4gc04029e

The Effects of Polyolefin Structure and Source on Pyrolysis-Derived Plastic Oil Composition

Journal Article · Wed Oct 30 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Green Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/d4gc04029e· OSTI ID:2475641

Wu, Jiayang ^[1]; Jiang, Zhen ^[1]; Cecon, Victor S. ^[2]; Curtzwiler, Greg W. ^[2]; Huber, George W. ^[1]; Vorst, Keith L. ^[2]; Mavrikakis, Manos ^[1]

University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI (United States)
Iowa State University, Ames, IA (United States)

Seven types of plastics were pyrolyzed in a fluidized bed reactor: post-consumer recycled (PCR) high-density polyethylene (HDPE), PCR polypropylene (PP), virgin resins of varying molecular weights of HDPE, virgin resins of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and (PP). Pyrolysis produced non-condensable gases (C1-C3), liquid phase products (C4-C40), and solids (C40+ and chars), with alkane, alkene, alkadiene, aromatic, and multi-cycloaromatics as the predominant compounds. Polymer structure had the greatest impact on product distribution, with minimal influence from molecular weight. Branches in polyethylene (PE) acted as thermal defects initiating degradation. Higher branch density in PE led to increased concentrations of aromatics, branched alkanes, and internal alkenes. PP and PE exhibited distinct degradation mechanisms, with PP requiring less energy for decomposition and yielding more oil. Here, pyrolysis oil from PCR HDPE and PCR PP contained a higher proportion of branched compounds. Additives in PCR plastics may promote isomerization during pyrolysis.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0009285

OSTI ID:: 2475641

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2480411

Journal Information:: Green Chemistry, Journal Name: Green Chemistry Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 26; ISSN 1463-9262

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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