Catalytic and thermal degradation of high-density polyethylene in vacuum gas oil over non-acidic and acidic catalysts Original Research Article

In this study, the conversion of HDPE in VGO to fuels was carried out in absence and presence of catalyst. The blend containing 20% HDPE was co-processed in presence of hydrogen at the temperatures of 435 and 450 °C. Five kinds of metal supported on active carbon catalysts (M-Ac) and acidic catalysts (HZSM-5 and DHC-8) were tested. The product distribution and the quality of liquid product changed depending upon the temperature and the type of catalyst. Among the metal supported active carbon catalyst, Co-Ac showed the highest cracking activity where as Mo-Ac showed the highest hydrodesulfurization activity. Co-Ac had better cracking activity than commercial hydrocracking catalyst (DHC-8). Although HZSM-5 had the best cracking effect in the hydrocracking of HDPE/VGO blend, the liquid product from HZSM-5 contained the highest sulphur. The use of carbon-supported metal catalysts in the co-processing of HDPE with VGO looks promising solution from an environmental viewpoint.