TRANSPORTIONS FUEL PRODUCTION BY COMBINATION OF LDPE THERMAL CRACKING AND CATALYTIC HYDROREFORMING

摘要

Plastics consumption is continuously increasing worldwide with a parallel growth in plastics wastes generation, which is causing deep concern in western societies. In fact, for EU-Norway-Switzerland more than 25 million tons of different plastics wastes were produced in 2011 and above 40% of these residues were landfilled, representing a potential waste of energy and/or chemicals. Fuel production from plastics is a promising way to reduce landfilling rates while obtaining valuable products. It has been recently proposed a two-step process comprising thermal degradation of the polymer followed by catalytic hydroreforming of the obtained oils. This process entails two main advantages: saturation of the olefins to avoid gum formation in the injection system of the automobiles and catalysts poisoning prevention by avoiding direct waste-catalyst contact. For these purposes, a bifunctional metallic-acidic catalyst is" necessary in the hydroreforming stage.