Catalytic pyrolysis of polypropylene using MCM-41: kinetic model

摘要

The kinetics of the thermal and catalytic decomposition of PP using different contents of an acid catalyst such as MCM-41 has been studied using dynamic thermogravimetry (TG) at a heating rate of 10 K/min, under atmospheric pressure and inert atmosphere (N-2) Clear differences have been observed in the thermogravimetric behaviour of the different samples. Results obtained have shown a remarkable effect of the catalyst in accelerating the degradation processes, especially at low concentrations, and catalyst loads higher than 16 wt.% show no apparent additional effect. A quantitative kinetic model has been developed and applied and the corresponding kinetic constants have been obtained by correlating the experimental thermogravimetric data. The kinetic parameters obtained have revealed a reduction in the activation energy of the catalytic decomposition as compared to the thermal process. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [References: 38]