Catalytic Pyrolysis of Municipal Plastic Film Wastes Over Nanoporous Al-MCM-41

A mesoporous material, Al-MCM-41, was applied to the catalytic pyrolysis of municipal plastic film waste (MPFW) to produce large amounts of valuable hydrocarbons. Compared to non-catalytic pyrolysis, the catalytic pyrolysis of MPFW over Al-MCM-41 revealed a lower decomposition temperature and activation energy upon thermogravimetric analysis. Heavy aliphatic hydrocarbons, which are the major products of non-catalytic pyrolysis, were cracked into small hydrocarbons and converted efficiently to aromatic hydrocarbons by catalytic pyrolysis over Al-MCM-41. The activity of catalytic conversion was enhanced by increasing the catalyst to reactant ratio.