Plastic waste to fuels by hydrocracking at mild conditions

Sibao Liu, Pavel A. Kots, Brandon C. Vance, Andrew Danielson, Dionisios G. Vlachos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Single-use plastics impose an enormous environmental threat, but their recycling, especially of polyolefins, has been proven challenging. We report a direct method to selectively convert polyolefins to branched, liquid fuels including diesel, jet, and gasoline-range hydrocarbons, with high yield up to 85% over Pt/WO3/ZrO2 and HY zeolite in hydrogen at temperatures as low as 225°C. The process proceeds via tandem catalysis with initial activation of the polymer primarily over Pt, with subsequent cracking over the acid sites of WO3/ZrO2 and HY zeolite, isomerization over WO3/ZrO2 sites, and hydrogenation of olefin intermediates over Pt. The process can be tuned to convert different common plastic wastes, including low-and high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, everyday polyethylene bottles and bags, and composite plastics to desirable fuels and light lubricants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereabf8283
JournalScience Advances
Volume7
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 21 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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