Upgrading of pyrolysis oil via catalytic co-pyrolysis of treated palm oil empty fruit bunch and plastic waste

Pyrolysis oil has been produced and upgraded through the co-pyrolysis of treated palm oil empty fruit bunch (PO-EFB) and plastic waste of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) using calcium oxide (CaO) as a catalyst. The treated PO-EFBs were mixed with the LDPE plastics with PO-EFB weight ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75. The mixtures were put into the co-pyrolysis reactor and heat-treated at 400-550 degrees C with nitrogen gas flowing for 45 min. The CaO catalysts used were varied in the range of 1-5%. The chemical compositions, density, acidity, viscosity, and calorific value were probed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), pycnometer, digital pH-meter, Ostwald viscometer, and bomb calorimeter, respectively. The results showed that the addition of LDPE plastics increased the yield and the quality of pyrolysis oil. Meanwhile, the increase in co-pyrolysis temperature decreased the yield of pyrolysis oil but increased the quality of pyrolysis oil. The best result was shown by the process using PO-EFB/LDPE ratio of 25:75 and 3% CaO catalyst at a temperature of 450 degrees C with compositions of 71.36% hydrocarbons and 28.64% alcohol. The resulting pyrolysis oil had a heating value of 43.5 MJ/kg, the density of 0.817 g/mL, a viscosity of 2.82 cSt, and a pH of 4.6.

Automated summary

Pyrolysis oil was produced and upgraded through the co-pyrolysis of treated palm oil empty fruit bunch (PO-EFB) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste, using calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst. LDPE plastic addition increased both the yield and quality of the pyrolysis oil. Increasing co-pyrolysis temperature decreased the yield but improved the quality of the pyrolysis oil.