Effect of the FCC Equilibrium Catalyst Properties and of the Cracking Temperature on the Production of Fuel from HDPE Pyrolysis Waxes

Abstract

The catalytic cracking of high-density polyethylene pyrolysis waxes has been investigated with the aim of promoting the production of fuels. The runs have been conducted in a CREC riser simulator reactor under industrial fluid catalytic cracking conditions: 500–560 °C; catalyst/oil ratio, 5 gcat gwax–1; and contact time, 6 s. Three commercial equilibrium catalysts with different compositions have been used, with the aim of determining the effect of the properties of the catalysts on the conversion, yield, and composition of the following fractions of products: dry gas (C1–C2), liquefied petroleum gases (LPG, C3–C4), and naphtha (C5–C12). The acidity and acid strength of the catalyst boost the production of not only naphtha (showing values of RON of up to 104.8) but also dry gas, LPG, and coke fractions. Obtained yields of naphtha and LPG fractions are in the ranges of 23.8–31.1 and 13.7–18.1 wt %, respectively, which means that reached conversion has been of 41.4–62.9 wt %. Furthermore, the concentrations of olefins and aromatics in the naphtha fraction are in the ranges of 35.8–48.1 and 26.0–37.9 wt %, respectively.