Effect of neat kaolin and CuO/Kaolin on the yield and composition of products from pyrolysis of polystyrene waste

Waste polystyrene was pyrolyzed in a batch reactor at 400 and 450 degrees C in the presence of CuO/kaolin and neat kaolin. Product yields were 85-99% with catalyzed pyrolysis giving higher yields than thermal pyrolysis. Pyrolysis at 400 degrees C gave lower yields than at 450 degrees C. The catalytic pyrolysis at 450 degrees C gave increased amount of pyrolysis oil. The oils contained many aromatic hydrocarbons, but the oil from CuO/kaolin-based pyrolysis consists of 85% naphthalene and about 13% styrene. In general, kaolin-based pyrolysis of waste polystyrene can serve as a green process of converting waste plastics materials into useful products for fuel and/or petrochemicals.