Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Justas Eimontas, Samy Yousef, Nerijus Striugas, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
Summary: Caprolactam is the main compound in waste fishing nets (WFNs) and its recovery through catalytic pyrolysis can extract high yields of caprolactam for various applications in the production of nylon fibers, films, textiles, and resins. The study conducted experiments using ZSM-5 catalyst at different heating rates, revealing that ZSM-5/WFNs samples showed consistent activation energies and high prediction accuracy with the DAEM and IPR models, suggesting the potential of catalytic pyrolysis technology in WFNs recycling.
Article
Polymer Science
Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby, Samy Yousef
Summary: This study investigated the pyrolysis behavior of metallized food packaging plastics waste (MFPW) in the presence of a ZSM-5 Zeolite catalyst at different concentrations and heating rates. The addition of catalyst did not have a significant effect on the pyrolysis products, as shown by TGA-DTG results. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of methane and carboxylic acid residues, while GC-MS measurements identified compounds similar to those found in petroleum oil. Additionally, pyrolysis kinetics showed relatively consistent activation energies for catalytic pyrolysis of MFPW samples with different catalyst concentrations.
Article
Thermodynamics
Samy Yousef, Ieva Kiminaite, Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
Summary: This research aims to recover high-added value chemical and energy products, phenol and acetic acid, from a large amount of GFRP waste through catalytic pyrolysis. The results showed that 2 wt.% of ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst can significantly decompose GFRP waste in the temperature range of 320-460 degrees C and recover phenol, acetic acid, and carbon dioxide compounds successfully.
THERMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Samy Yousef, Ieva Kiminaite, Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
Summary: The catalytic pyrolysis process was used to decompose the organic fraction of end-of-life glass fibre-reinforced epoxy resin composites (GFRP) and recover phenol. The catalyst concentration had a significant impact on the pyrolysis kinetics and yield.
Article
Thermodynamics
Samy Yousef, Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, Marius Praspaliauskas, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
Summary: This research aims to study the catalytic pyrolysis of glass fibre-reinforced epoxy resin composites mixed with different fillers over zeolite catalyst. The experimental results show that the hybrid catalyst can significantly enhance the formation of aliphatic compounds and phenol compounds, reduce the energy required for decomposition, and demonstrate good consistency with increasing heating rates and addition of hybrid catalysts.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Wenwen Kong, Boxiong Shen, Jiao Ma, Jia Kong, Shuo Feng, Zhuozhi Wang, Lifu Xiong
Summary: The pyrolysis characteristics of Spirulina platensis, Tetradesmus obliquus, and Chlorella vulgaris were investigated by various techniques. The elemental and biochemical composition of different microalgae influenced their pyrolysis behavior. The pyrolysis process of the three microalgae could be divided into several stages, and the major reaction occurred at a certain temperature range. Different products and activation energies were observed for each microalgae. The pyrolysis of Spirulina platensis produced more CO2 and compounds containing C=O bonds, while Tetradesmus obliquus and Chlorella vulgaris produced slightly higher levels of hydrocarbons.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leilei Dai, Nan Zhou, Hui Li, Yunpu Wang, Yuhuan Liu, Kirk Cobb, Yanling Cheng, Hanwu Lei, Paul Chen, Roger Ruan
Summary: By utilizing relay catalysis with Al2O3 and ZSM-5 zeolite, the catalytic fast pyrolysis of LDPE can efficiently produce high value naphtha. Under optimized conditions, the selectivity of monoaromatics and C-5-C-12 alkanes/olefins can reach up to 100% in the product.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wei-Hsin Chen, Ching-Lin Cheng, Kuan-Ting Lee, Su Shiung Lam, Hwai Chyuan Ong, Yong Sik Ok, Samrand Saeidi, Amit K. Sharma, Tzu-Hsien Hsieh
Summary: This study investigated the catalytic pyrolysis phenomena and mechanisms of biomass wastes using ZSM-5, focusing on the identification of catalytic levels and formation of aromatic hydrocarbons. The analysis suggested that biomass waste pyrolysis processes can be divided into three zones, with the catalytic effect of ZSM-5 increasing the proportion of AHs in the vapor stream. The study's indexes provide useful measures to identify the catalytic pyrolysis dynamics and levels.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jiangfei Duan, Shengxia Feng, Weilong He, Rui Li, Peng Zhang, Yu Zhang
Summary: The manuscript utilized TG-FTIR, Py-GC/MS, and kinetic models to study the pyrolysis characteristics of electrolytic manganese residue. The pyrolysis process was divided into five stages, each with different kinetic mechanisms and released gases, with NH3, CO2, and SO2 as the major gases. The intermediate product of CO was unstable and participated in reactions promoting the formation of CO2 and SO2.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Samy Yousef, Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, Alaa Mohamed, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
Summary: This research focuses on utilizing a pyrolysis process to maximize the extraction of benzoic acid from PET nonwoven fabric waste. The results demonstrate that PET fabric is highly volatile and can be completely degraded at 490 degrees Celsius. By applying pyrolysis treatment, the abundance of benzoic acid extracted from PET fabric waste can be increased by 134%.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Huashan Li, XianJin Lyu, Wuming Xie, Ziyi Ding, Yong Liu, Jingyong Liu, Fatih Evrendilek, Ruili Zheng, Jianfang Lyu, Chunxiao Yang
Summary: The study investigated the co-pyrolysis of pineapple rind (PR) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) to understand its kinetic, interaction mechanisms, and product characteristics. The co-pyrolysis exhibited synergistic and antagonistic effects at different temperature ranges. The activation energy for co-pyrolysis was lower than that of individual PR or LDPE. The addition of 50% LDPE resulted in the lowest activation energy requirement. The co-pyrolysis inhibited the production of CO2 and promoted the formation of CH4, leading to improved pyrolytic oil quality. Multi-objective optimization suggested the optimal operational conditions for co-pyrolysis of 50% LDPE and 50% PR. This study provided valuable insights for optimizing the co-pyrolysis of fruit residues and plastic polymers.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Sijia Sun, Yougen Yuan, Ruiyu Chen, Xiaokang Xu, Deyuan Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the thermal degradation behaviors and products of typical surgical face mask waste using thermogravimetric and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The findings suggest that the pyrolysis process in nitrogen is a one-step reaction and the thermodynamic parameters indicate it is an endothermic non-spontaneous reaction. The major volatile products include inorganic substances, alkanes, alkenes, with specific chemical reactions proposed for their generation.
THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRESS
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Fangyu Fan, Zongling Yang, Xianjun Xing
Summary: Corn straw, as a large-yield agricultural waste, can be thermochemically treated for comprehensive utilization. Advanced techniques like TG-FTIR and TG-GC/MS were used to analyze the pyrolysis process more clearly. Results showed that the pyrolysis of corn straw leads to the production of various volatile organic compounds, with significant changes in composition at different temperatures.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Son Dong, Houqian Li, Iris K. Bloede, Abdullah J. Al Abdulghani, Edgard A. Lebron-Rodriguez, George W. Huber, Ive Hermans
Summary: The catalytic conversion of model compounds for plastic pyrolysis oil (1-octene, octadiene, octane, and toluene) over ZSM-5 in a fixed-bed reactor was investigated mechanistically. The conversion of 1-octene resulted in the production of benzene, toluene, xylene, coke, and hydrogen through a series of cracking, oligomerization, cyclization, and hydrogen transfer reactions. Octadiene mainly contributed to reactor fouling through thermal coking, while octane and toluene were converted through cracking reactions and disproportionation, dealkylation, and coking reactions, respectively. The use of mesoporous ZSM-5 maintained product selectivity for 70 hours in time-on-stream experiments.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Fan Zhang, Yunan Sun, Jianyuan Li, Hong Su, Zongsheng Zhu, Beibei Yan, Zhanjun Cheng, Guanyi Chen
Summary: This study investigated the pyrolysis characteristics of 3D printed PLA waste (3DP-PLAW) using TG-FTIR/GC-MS and found two main pyrolysis stages, with the occurrence of the second stage attributed to changes in the physicochemical properties of PLA during 3D printing. It was also found that 3DP-PLAW had a higher heating value than raw PLA, highlighting its potential value for energy recovery.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
J. Eimontas, N. Striugas, K. Zakarauskas, I. Kiminaite
Summary: The eutrophication processes and water pollution caused by marine plastic waste are significant ecological problems. This study analyzed the used fishing nets and found that thermal treatment at 700 degrees Celsius with Y-Type catalyst could result in a high yield (96%) of caprolactam. This research provides insights for the recovery and utilization of marine plastic waste in a circular economy.
Article
Thermodynamics
Samy Yousef, Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, Marius Praspaliauskas, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
Summary: This research aims to study the catalytic pyrolysis of glass fibre-reinforced epoxy resin composites mixed with different fillers over zeolite catalyst. The experimental results show that the hybrid catalyst can significantly enhance the formation of aliphatic compounds and phenol compounds, reduce the energy required for decomposition, and demonstrate good consistency with increasing heating rates and addition of hybrid catalysts.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Justas Eimontas, Adolfas Jancauskas, Kestutis Zakarauskas, Nerijus Striugas, Lina Vorotinskiene
Summary: The uncollected seaweed and macroalgae have caused eutrophication, which is a significant and ongoing ecological issue. This paper investigates the potential use of seaweed as a feedstock in the slow-pyrolysis process through microthermal analysis combined with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and laboratory-scale experiments with different temperatures and catalysts. The results show that seaweed decomposes in two stages at 250 and 700 degrees C, and the catalyst lowers the activation energy and decomposition temperatures. The experiments reveal that the gaseous phase contains CnHm, H-2, CO, and CO2, while the liquid fraction derivatives include substituted phenolic compounds, pyridine, benzoic acid, naphthalene, d-glucopyranose, and d-allose. The catalyst also converts higher molecular mass compounds into toluene (71%), making this technology attractive for the recovery of higher-added-value products.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Samy Yousef, Vidas Lekavicius, Nerijus Striugas
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in surgical mask waste (WM) in the EU region, and managing and recycling them became a challenge. This study analyzed the techno-economic viability of pyrolysis and gasification processes for converting WMs into pyrolysis oil and hydrogen-rich syngas. The results showed that gasification had higher economic performance compared to other methods, such as incineration and pyrolysis.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Samy Yousef, Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, Alaa Mohamed, Marius Praspaliauskas, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
Summary: The remarkable properties of polysulfone (PSF) membranes have led to their use in various ultrafiltration applications. However, the extensive use and short service life of PSF membranes have resulted in a large amount of waste that needs to be managed properly. This study aimed to convert the end-of-life PSF membranes into valuable chemical and energy products through pyrolysis treatment, which was found to be effective in producing gaseous products rich in phenol and benzoic acid compounds.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Samy Yousef, Justas Eimontas, Kestutis Zakarauskas, Adolfas Jancauskas, Nerijus Striugas
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a significant amount of surgical mask waste, posing a future environmental challenge. This study aims to convert surgical mask waste into useful products through a gasification process, including H-2-CH4-rich syngas, carbon nanoparticles, and benzene-rich tar. Experimental results demonstrate that the optimal conditions for the highest production of syngas and carbon nanoparticles were at a temperature of 900 degrees C and an air-fuel equivalence ratio of 0.29. Additionally, the highest content of hydrogen and methane in the syngas was achieved at a temperature of 900 degrees C and an air-fuel equivalence ratio of 0.19.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ieva Kiminaite, Judith Gonzalez-Arias, Nerijus Striugas, Justas Eimontas, Martin Seemann
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased plastic pollution due to the extensive use of PPE worldwide. To address this issue, proper management of PPE disposal is necessary. The steam gasification/pyrolysis technique offers a reliable solution for chemically recycling these wastes into valuable products. Experimental results show that the process temperature significantly affects the composition of gases produced, with higher temperatures promoting the synthesis of syngas. This study demonstrates that the thermo-chemical conversion process is a feasible route for converting used face masks into valuable products such as syngas.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Samy Yousef, Justas Eimontas, K. estutis Zakarauskas, Nerijus Striu
Summary: This research aims to recover styrene and glass fibre (GF) from end-of-life wind turbine blades (WTBs). Conversion experiments were carried out at different pyrolysis temperatures, and the optimal temperature for decomposition of UPR fragments while maintaining the morphology of the recovered GF was determined. The results showed that styrene was the major compound in the oil product and CO2 was the main gas in the gaseous product.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Samy Yousef, Justas Eimontas, Kestutis Zakarauskas, Nerijus Striugas
Summary: This research aims to recover triacetin from cigarette butts using pyrolysis treatment and demonstrates the high potential of the pyrolysis process in disposing of cigarette butts and recovering triacetin.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, K. estutis Zakarauskas, Ieva Kiminaite, Inna Pitak
Summary: Marine biomass and plastic wastes are significant ecological issues that can be converted into energy through pyrolysis with the help of catalysts. This study focuses on seaweed and fishing nets pyrolysis, and investigates the use of iron and copper impregnated catalysts to improve the quality of the products. The results show that copper impregnation greatly increases the content of caprolactam and hexanenitrile.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Samy Yousef, Justas Eimontas, Nerijus Striugas, Alaa Mohamed, Mohammed Ali Abdelnaby
Summary: This research focuses on utilizing a pyrolysis process to maximize the extraction of benzoic acid from PET nonwoven fabric waste. The results demonstrate that PET fabric is highly volatile and can be completely degraded at 490 degrees Celsius. By applying pyrolysis treatment, the abundance of benzoic acid extracted from PET fabric waste can be increased by 134%.