Tuning High-Density Polyethylene Hydrocracking through Mordenite Zeolite Crystal Engineering
Date
2023-06-19
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
Abstract
We investigate the hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene using a bifunctional Pt/Al2O3 and modified mordenite acid catalyst. Mass transport limitations impact polymer diffusion into the mordenite pore complex. Initial reaction intermediates are formed on the zeolite’s outer surface. Intercrystallite open-end mesopores improve the diffusion of reaction intermediates deeper into the crystal. Recrystallization and desilication of mordenite lead to a higher polymer conversion and shift the product distribution maximum from pentanes to hexanes and heptanes. The nature of mesopores (occluded or open) and total Brønsted acidity significantly impact zeolite activity and selectivity.
Description
This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, copyright © 2023 American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c01515. This article will be embargoed until 06/19/2024.
Keywords
plastic waste, circularity, diffusion limitations, mesoporosity
Citation
Kots, Pavel A., Panagiota A. Doika, Brandon C. Vance, Sean Najmi, and Dionisios G. Vlachos. “Tuning High-Density Polyethylene Hydrocracking through Mordenite Zeolite Crystal Engineering.” ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 11, no. 24 (June 19, 2023): 9000–9009. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c01515.