Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of Polyolefins into Alkanes

Sánchez-Rivera, Kevin L.; Huber, George W.

doi:10.1021/acscentsci.0c01637

Cited by 31 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Prior work has focused on discovering hydrogenolysis catalysts to produce fuels for proof-of-concept. 6 , 8 , 23 − 26 For example, the hydrogenolysis of polyethylene over an ordered mesoporous shell/active site/core, Pt/SiO 2 catalyst was showcased to demonstrate a processive mechanism. 27 Ruthenium-supported catalysts, e.g., Ru/C, 24 , 26 , 28 Ru/zeolites, 29 and Ru/CeO 2 , 23 possess higher activity than Pt 8 , 25 and are potentially promising materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 6 , 8 , 23 − 26 For example, the hydrogenolysis of polyethylene over an ordered mesoporous shell/active site/core, Pt/SiO 2 catalyst was showcased to demonstrate a processive mechanism. 27 Ruthenium-supported catalysts, e.g., Ru/C, 24 , 26 , 28 Ru/zeolites, 29 and Ru/CeO 2 , 23 possess higher activity than Pt 8 , 25 and are potentially promising materials. Unfortunately, Ru generates significant methane, which is an undesirable, low-value product.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Polyethylene Hydrogenolysis at Mild Conditions over Ruthenium on Tungstated Zirconia

Wang

Xie

Kots

et al. 2021

JACS Au

158

146

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plastics waste has become a major environmental threat, with polyethylene being one of the most produced and hardest to recycle plastics. Hydrogenolysis is potentially the most viable catalytic technology for recycling. Ruthenium (Ru) is one of the most active hydrogenolysis catalysts but yields too much methane. Here we introduce ruthenium supported on tungstated zirconia (Ru-WZr) for hydrogenolysis of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). We show that the Ru-WZr catalysts suppress methane formation and produce a product distribution in the diesel and wax/lubricant base-oil range unattainable by Ru-Zr and other Ru-supported catalysts. Importantly, the enhanced performance is showcased for real-world, single-use LDPE consumables. Reactivity studies combined with characterization and density functional theory calculations reveal that highly dispersed (WO x ) n clusters store H as surface hydroxyls by spillover. We correlate this hydrogen storage mechanism with hydrogenation and desorption of long alkyl intermediates that would otherwise undergo further C–C scission to produce methane.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polyethylene Hydrogenolysis at Mild Conditions over Ruthenium on Tungstated Zirconia

Wang

Xie

Kots

et al. 2021

JACS Au

158

146

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This reaction was performed in the absence of solvent, and the catalyst was shown to be recyclable for multiple cycles. Ru-based heterogeneous catalysts are attracting growing interest as materials for the hydrogenolysis of aromatic plastic waste, PE, − and model alkanes . The high activity and stability of Ru-based heterogeneous catalysts in various catalytic systems make them excellent candidates for the hydrogenolysis of realistic waste plastic streams. − In addition to being recyclable, carbon supports can be sourced sustainably from biogenic carbon or even from the pyrolysis of waste plastics themselves …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogenolysis of Polypropylene and Mixed Polyolefin Plastic Waste over Ru/C to Produce Liquid Alkanes

Rorrer

Troyano-Valls

Beckham

et al. 2021

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

162

120

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Catalytic depolymerization of polyolefins is a promising chemical recycling strategy to create value-added products from waste plastics, which are accumulating in landfills and the natural environment at unsustainable rates. The cleavage of strong C−C bonds in polyolefins can be performed using a noble metal and hydrogen via a hydrogenolysis mechanism. Previously, we identified ruthenium nanoparticles supported on carbon (Ru/C) as a highly active heterogeneous catalyst for the conversion of polyethylene into liquid and gaseous n-alkanes under mild conditions. In the present study, we investigated the catalytic depolymerization of polypropylene (PP) under mild conditions (200−250 °C, 20−50 bar H 2 ). We demonstrate that Ru/C produces C 5 −C 32 iso-alkane yields above 68% in the absence of solvent and identify trade-offs between product yield and temperature, hydrogen pressure, and reaction time. We apply a rigorous analytical method to quantify all liquid and gaseous alkane products. The characterized catalyst was found to be recyclable after the complete depolymerization of high molecular weight PP (M w ∼ 340,000 Da) to liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons and after depolymerization of a postconsumer PP centrifuge tube. Further, the catalyst was shown to be effective in depolymerizing a mixture of high-density polyethylene and PP to produce a mixture of linear and branched liquid alkanes, demonstrating feasibility for the depolymerization of streams of mixed polyolefin waste.

show abstract

“…Another option for liquefying polymer waste is metal-catalyzed hydrogenolysis [20]. The process is performed in the presence of a metal catalyst, under moderate temperature conditions (over 200 • C), high hydrogen pressure (over 2.2 MPa) and in the presence of a solvent [21]. This technology also generates high costs due to the high-pressure process and solvent waste recycling.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrocarbon Fractions from Thermolysis of Waste Plastics as Components of Engine Fuels

Matuszewska

Hańderek²,

Paczuski

et al. 2021

Energies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plastics are one of the basic construction materials with a wide range of various applications. One of their disadvantages is the problem of managing the waste they generate. Chemical recycling offers the possibility of liquefying polymeric waste and using it as fuel components. Existing technologies giving good quality products are expensive. The HT technology developed and described by the authors is cheaper and enables a high quality product to be obtained. The authors have shown that the quality of the received fuel components is influenced not only by the polymer waste processing technology, but also by the feedstock composition. The presented thermolysis technology not only enables more advanced recycling, but also gives the possibility of partial improvement of the product quality. A product with the best physico-chemical properties was obtained from a blend of PE:PP:PS used in the ratio 60:30:10. It was proved that diesel and petrol blends composed of a 5% v/v share of petrol and diesel fractions, obtained from thermolysis of plastics, meet the normative requirements of fuel quality standards.

show abstract

Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of Polyolefins into Alkanes

Abstract: Polyolefins can be converted into liquid alkanes by hydrogenolysis with a Ru/C catalyst.

Cited by 31 publications

References 4 publications

Polyethylene Hydrogenolysis at Mild Conditions over Ruthenium on Tungstated Zirconia

Polyethylene Hydrogenolysis at Mild Conditions over Ruthenium on Tungstated Zirconia

Hydrogenolysis of Polypropylene and Mixed Polyolefin Plastic Waste over Ru/C to Produce Liquid Alkanes

Hydrocarbon Fractions from Thermolysis of Waste Plastics as Components of Engine Fuels

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About