Catalytic degradation of high density polyethylene: An evaluation of mesoporous and microporous catalysts using thermal analysis

Catalytic degradation of waste polymers offers the potential for the selective recovery of useful chemical fractions by influencing the product distributions. Thermogravimetric analysis has been used to investigate the activity of various aluminosilicate catalysts in the degradation of high density...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThermochimica acta Vol. 294; no. 1; pp. 65 - 69
Main Authors Garforth, A., Fiddy, S., Lin, Y.-H., Ghanbari-Siakhali, A., Sharratt, P.N., Dwyer, J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 12.06.1997
Subjects
Catalytic degradation
MCM-41
Polyethylene
Thermal analysis
Zeolites
Polyethylene
MCM-41
Thermal analysis
Catalytic degradation
Zeolites
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Summary:Catalytic degradation of waste polymers offers the potential for the selective recovery of useful chemical fractions by influencing the product distributions. Thermogravimetric analysis has been used to investigate the activity of various aluminosilicate catalysts in the degradation of high density polyethylene (HDPE). Amorphous silica-alumina significantly reduced the apparent activation energy as compared with uncatalysed thermal processes. Zeolites Y and ZSM-5 further reduced the activation energy resulting in more rapid degradation. Aluminium containing MCM-41 was found to be active in the degradation of HDPE at a rate similar to that of HZSM-5, confirming the potential of this family of materials in the cracking of heavier hydrocarbons.
ISSN:0040-6031
1872-762X
DOI:10.1016/S0040-6031(96)03145-0