Polyolefin plastic waste hydroconversion to fuels, lubricants, and waxes: a comparative study

Abstract

A direct comparison of the recent advancements in the hydrogenolysis and hydrocracking of polyolefins is lacking. This perspective aims to address this gap while providing insights from model alkane studies to guide future research.

Antioxidant-induced transformations of a metal-acid hydrocracking catalyst in the deconstruction of polyethylene waste

“…, hydrocracking and hydrogenolysis) has gained increasing attention as a strategy for the deconstruction of plastics. 1,18,20–22 This technology is particularly well suited to valorize polyolefins, which represent the largest percentage (by weight) of plastics consumed globally. 2 In hydroconversion processes, supported noble metal catalysts ( e.g.…”

“…, the molar ratio of Pt sites to Brønsted acid (BA) sites]. 20,21 Unfortunately, the highly tunable nature of many hydroconversion catalysts is often countered by susceptibility to poisoning, 18,23,24 and this vulnerability is particularly important when considering hydroconversion approaches to treat real plastics waste.…”

Catalytic Activation of Polyethylene Model Compounds Over Metal‐Exchanged Beta Zeolites

“…Many heterogeneous catalysts for polyethylene decomposition have been studied, but most proposed pathways require temperatures in excess of 500 °C, [8] co-processing with H 2 , [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] and/or precious metal catalysts. [9][10][11]16] Strategies involving H 2 co-processing, often referred to as hydrocracking, are partic-ularly notable as they truncate polymer chains by replacing CÀ C bonds with CÀ H bonds. An alternative to this approach, activating polymer chains through catalytic dehydrogenation, has not been reported in the literature but holds promise through elimination of demand for H 2 .…”

“…Heterogeneous catalytic routes for deconstruction of polymers including polyethylene are appealing due to the ease of separation of products from the catalyst, enabling continuous operation of heterogeneous catalytic reactors. Many heterogeneous catalysts for polyethylene decomposition have been studied, but most proposed pathways require temperatures in excess of 500 °C, [8] co‐processing with H 2 , [9–15] and/or precious metal catalysts [9–11,16] . Strategies involving H 2 co‐processing, often referred to as hydrocracking, are particularly notable as they truncate polymer chains by replacing C−C bonds with C−H bonds.…”

Electronic modulation of metal-support interactions improves polypropylene hydrogenolysis over ruthenium catalysts

“…Hydrogenolysis is a low-energy valorization route of PP and polyethylene (PE) 5 , producing liquid products, including lubricant base oil 6 . Ru and Pt nanoparticles on carbon or oxide supports have been the hydrogenolysis catalysts of choice [7][8][9][10][11] .…”