Catalytic co‐pyrolysis of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and lignin for jet fuel range hydrocarbons over activated carbon catalyst

Abstract

The catalytic conversion of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and lignin over activated carbon into jet fuel range hydrocarbons was studied. A fixed bed furnace was used to investigate the impacts of temperature, LDPE to lignin ratio, and catalyst to feedstock ratio on the composition of bio-oils, and up to 100 area% jet fuel range hydrocarbons can be acquired from the catalytic co-pyrolysis of LDPE and lignin. The results showed that the activated carbon has an excellent catalytic performance to convert LDPE and lignin into jet fuel range hydrocarbons. The properties of activated carbon catalyst were characterized by nitrogen gas adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and scanning electron microscope. There is a synergistic effect between the higher pyrolysis temperature and the acid sites of activated carbon on the dissociation and conversion of alkanes to form the aromatics. In addition, the yield of jet fuel range hydrocarbons could be enhanced by the synergistic effect of LDPE on the catalytic conversion of lignin. This work provided an environment friendly, economical, convenient, simple, and effective route to acquire jet fuel range hydrocarbons from daily waste plastics and biomass.