Biomass:polystyrene co-pyrolysis coupled with metal-modified zeolite catalysis for liquid fuel and chemical production

Abstract

Biomass and waste polystyrene plastic (ratio 1:1) were co-pyrolysed followed by catalysis in a two-stage fixed bed reactor system to produce upgraded bio-oils for production of liquid fuel and aromatic chemicals. The catalysts investigated were ZSM-5 impregnated with different metals, Ga, Co, Cu, Fe and Ni to determine their influence on bio-oil upgrading. The results showed that the different added metals had a different impact on the yield and composition of the product oils and gases. Deoxygenation of the bio-oils was mainly via formation of CO2 and CO via decarboxylation and decarbonylation with the Ni–ZSM-5 and Co–ZSM-5 catalysts whereas higher water yield and lower CO2 and CO was obtained with the ZSM-5, Ga–ZSM-5, Cu–ZSM-5 and Fe–ZSM-5 catalysts suggesting hydrodeoxygenation was dominant. Compared to the unmodified ZSM-5, the yield of single-ring aromatic compounds in the product oil was increased for the Co–ZSM-5, Cu–ZSM-5, Fe–ZSM-5 and Ni–ZSM-5 catalysts. However, for the Ga–ZSM-5 catalyst, single-ring aromatic compounds were reduced, but the highest yield of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was produced. A higher biomass to polystyrene ratio (4:1) resulted in a markedly lower oil yield with a consequent increased yield of gas.

A Thermo-Catalytic Pyrolysis of Polystyrene Waste Review: A Systematic, Statistical, and Bibliometric Approach

“…Biomass is a biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste of biological origin [ 134 ]. Biomass can produce alternative fuels, mitigating fossil fuel environmental and climate change impacts [ 135 ]. Moreover, co-pyrolysis refers to the process of thermo-catalytic pyrolysis in which different feedstocks are mixed, and the process is carried out.…”

Innovations for Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Nigeria

“…A group researchers also reported on the biomass: polystyrene (1:1) copyrolysis coupled with metal modified zeolite catalyst in a two-stage fixed bed reactor to produce upgraded bio-oils for production of liquid fuel and aromatic chemicals (Andrew et al, 2022). The catalyst was impregnated with different metals Ga, Cu, Fe, Ni to determine their influence on bio-oil upgrading.…”

Design of trifunctional catalysts for promoting sequential condensation, deoxygenation, and aromatization of pyrolyzed mixed waste

“…However, the oxygen removal process over Ni and Co results in excess CO 2 and CO, which causes a substantial loss in bio-oil yield. 21,22 Studies focusing on the fabrication of catalysts that integrate zeolite, alkaline, metal, and transition metal in one composite, thus combining the advantages of each type of active phase, i.e., acid, base, and metal, respectively, are lacking in the literature. Indeed, synthesizing such materials is a signicant challenge since it is necessary to position the alkaline and transition metals on the zeolite surface without sacricing or disabling its unique catalytic and structural properties, i.e., active site poisoning and pore blockage.…”

“…However, the oxygen removal process over Ni and Co results in excess CO 2 and CO, which causes a substantial loss in bio-oil yield. 21,22…”