Catalytic Pyrolysis of Polystyrene Waste using Bentonite as a Catalyst

Abstract

The recycling of waste plastics by thermal and catalytic degradation processes can be an important source of producing alternative fuel oil from the view point of an economical aspect and contributing to the environmental protection from the view point of an environmental aspect. In this work pyrolysis of Polystyrene (PS) was carried out with bentonite as a catalyst at temperature between 380 to 420 °C to explore its effect on pyrolysis product distribution. Three fractions of products were obtained: Pyrolysis oil (55 wt %), pyro gas (10 wt %) and char (34 wt %). The presences of catalyst produces light oil as well as increase in yields of liquid and gas fractions as the temperature increases were reported.