Operando Study Reveals the Superior Cracking Activity and Stability of Hierarchical ZSM-5 Catalyst for the Cracking of Low-Density Polyethylene

Karolina A Tarach; Kamila Pyra; Sandra Siles; Ignacio Melián-Cabrera; Kinga Góra-Marek

doi:10.1002/cssc.201802190

Operando Study Reveals the Superior Cracking Activity and Stability of Hierarchical ZSM-5 Catalyst for the Cracking of Low-Density Polyethylene

ChemSusChem. 2019 Feb 7;12(3):633-638. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201802190. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Authors

Karolina A Tarach¹, Kamila Pyra¹, Sandra Siles², Ignacio Melián-Cabrera², Kinga Góra-Marek¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 2 Gronostajowa St., 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
² European Bioenergy Research Institute, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK.

PMID: 30520260
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201802190

Abstract

A new theoretical and practical framework has been developed through operando study of the zeolite catalytic cracking of low-density polyethylene (as a model reaction) under reaction conditions. Results show that microporous ZSM-5 gives rise to less cracking products. Hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites are more active cracking catalysts, rendering more C₂ -C₅ hydrocarbons, with a delayed deactivation due to the secondary porosity. This tool in combination with thermogravimetric analysis provides complementary and valuable information for the study, and design of advanced catalysts.

Keywords: cracking; operando study; plastics; waste valorization; zeolites.

Abstract

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