Comparative Analysis of Catalytic Cracking and Hydrocracking of Waste Plastic

Waste materials from various processes comprising of polyethylene and polystyrene were analyzed for the production of fuel using catalytic cracking and hydrocracking in an autoclave reactor. The composite catalyst USY/SBA-16 was synthesized in the lab to be employed in the catalytic process because of its outstanding stability and regenerative capability. Each of the two processes produced a fuel with different quality and quantity. Catalytic cracking and hydrocracking of polystyrene and polyethylene were investigated at different temperatures by varying the percentage amount of catalyst and it was found that polystyrene yielded a fuel of better quality as compared to polyethylene.

Automated summary

In this study, waste materials containing polyethylene and polystyrene were used to synthesize a composite catalyst USY/SBA-16, which was then used in catalytic cracking and hydrocracking processes for fuel production in an autoclave reactor. It was found that polystyrene yielded a fuel of better quality compared to polyethylene, but the quality and quantity of fuel produced from both waste materials varied under different temperature and catalyst dosage conditions.