Efficient upgrading of polyolefin plastics into C5-C12 gasoline alkanes over a Pt/W/Beta catalyst

A Pt/W/Beta catalyst was developed for direct and efficient hydrogenolysis of low density polyethylene (LDPE) into C-5-C-12 gasoline alkanes with a high yield of 63.6 wt% (yield of C-1-C-13 light alkanes is 94.0 wt%) at 250 degrees C and 3.0 MPa H-2 within 1.0 h. The obtained gasoline alkanes have a narrow carbon number distribution and contain abundant mono-branched isomers, which were attributed to well-dispersed Pt species and proximity of the cooperating active sites, especially the moderate acidity upon the introduction of 0.5 wt% tungsten species. The catalyst was also applicable to hydrogenolysis of light low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) to obtain the valuable gasoline alkanes (C-5-C-12) in high yield (50.8-73.5 wt%). The C-C bond cleavage of plastics over the Pt/W/Beta catalyst was found to occur through medium to long-chain hydrocarbons (n-C-x, x > 13) based on experiments performed using docosane (n-C-22 alkane) as the model feedstock.

Automated summary

A Pt/W/Beta catalyst has been developed for efficient hydrogenolysis of LDPE into gasoline alkanes with high yield under mild conditions. The resulting alkanes have narrow carbon distribution and abundant mono-branched isomers, and the catalyst is also applicable to LLDPE, HDPE, and PP. The C-C bond cleavage of plastics over Pt/W/Beta catalyst was found to occur through medium to long-chain hydrocarbons.