Conversion of atactic polypropylene waste to fuel oil. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6408568· OSTI ID:6408568

Bhatia, J.

A stable, convenient thermal pyrolysis process was demonstrated on a large scale pilot plant. The process successfully converted high viscosity copolymer atactic polypropylene to predominantly liquid fuels which could be burned in commercial burners. Energy yield of the process was very high - in excess of 93% including gas phase heating value. Design and operating data were obtained to permit design of a commercial size atactic conversion plant. Atactic polypropylene can be cracked at temperatures around 850/sup 0/F and residence time of 5 minutes. The viscosity of the cracked product increases with decrease in time/temperature. A majority of the pyrolysis was carried out at a pressure of 50 psig. Thermal cracking of atactic polypropylene is seen to result in sigificant coke formation (0.4% to 0.8% on a weight of feed basis) although the coke levels were of an order of magnitude lower than those obtained during catalytic cracking. The discrepancy between batch and continuous test data can be atrributed to lowered heat transfer and diffusion rates. Oxidative pyrolysis is not seen as a viable commercial alternative due to a significant amount of water formation. However, introduction of controlled quantities of oxygen at lower temperatures to affect change in feedstock viscosity could be considered. It is essential to have a complete characterization of the polymer composition and structure in order to obtain useful and duplicable data because the pyrolysis products and probably the pyrolysis kinetics are affected by introduction of abnormalities into the polymer structure during polymerization. The polymer products from continuous testing contained an olefinic content of 80% or higher. This suggests that the pyrolysis products be investigated for use as olefinic raw materials. Catalytic cracking does not seem to result in any advantage over the Thermal Cracking process in terms of reaction rates or temperature of operation.

• Research Organization: Procedyne Corp., New Brunswick, NJ (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-77CS40329
• OSTI ID: 6408568
• Report Number(s): DOE/CS/40329-T1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
ALKENES
CALORIFIC VALUE
CATALYTIC CRACKING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
CONVERSION
CRACKING
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUID FUELS
MANAGEMENT
MEDIUM PRESSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PILOT PLANTS
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYPROPYLENE
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
PYROLYSIS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VISCOSITY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING