Catalytic Copyrolysis of Heavy Oil with Polypropylene

Catalytic and noncatalytic copyrolysis of plastic and heavy oil was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), pyrolysis reactor experiments, and GC analysis of the formed liquid. As revealed by the TGA experiments, predegradation as a pretreatment method had further lowered the decomposition temperature of polypropylene- (PP-) bitumen mixtures and reduced the severity of catalyst deactivation by coke. The presence of PP in the copyrolysis had increased the liquid yield and decreased the coke yield. The presence of PP in the copyrolysis had shifted the product distribution from heavier to lighter fractions while copyrolysis using predegradation displayed the highest percentage of C5-C9 and C9-C14 fractions. Based on the performance of the catalysts, C5- C14 was produced in the following order, HY > 20% USY > APC > K30, while C14-C20 was produced in the reverse order of K30 > 20% USY > APC > HY. Indepth analysis of the percentage product distribution confirmed the availability of synergies during the thermal copyrolysis of PP and Ex-Mwambe heavy oil. Predegradation as pretreatment method has intensified the contact between the two feed constituents, enabling synergistic effects to materialize. The excess percentage of C5-C9 and the insignificant amount of C20+ produced from the thermal copyrolysis affirmed the possibility that the presence of PP facilitates the conversion of waxy hydrocarbons into lighter products. the conversion of waxy hydrocarbons into lighter products. Coke components from predegradation method are more volatile while the coke formed during normal mixing pyrolysis contained a higher percentage of hard coke.

Automated summary

Catalytic and noncatalytic copyrolysis of plastic and heavy oil was studied using thermogravimetric analysis, pyrolysis reactor experiments, and GC analysis of the formed liquid. The presence of plastic in the copyrolysis increased the liquid yield and shifted the product distribution towards lighter fractions. Predegradation as a pretreatment method reduced the decomposition temperature, severity of catalyst deactivation, and increased synergistic effects during the thermal copyrolysis of plastic and heavy oil.