Characterization of Thermo-Catalytic Degradation Products of Waste High-Density Polyethylene Using GC-MS (An Environmental Waste as Feedstock Chemicals)

In the present study, the thermo-catalytically obtained oils from the degradation of waste high-density polyethylene (HDPE) using MgCO/sub 3/ as a catalyst were characterized by GC-MS in order to find out their detailed composition. It was found that all the fractions were mainly composed of saturated hydrocarbons with good percentages of unsaturated hydrocarbons. Some aromatic and cyclic hydrocarbons were also identified with small proportions. Although the thermal oil was obtained with double degradation of HDPE, still it contains relatively higher hydrocarbons as compared to the catalytic oil obtained with single step degradation. The composition of the thermal and catalytic oil can be differentiated as; the latter is composed of relatively higher quantities of lighter hydrocarbons as compared to the former one. Moreover the catalytic oil contains relatively greater proportion of cyclic and branched hydrocarbons which can impart improved fuel properties to the oil. Thus the catalyst has influenced the degradation product in terms of enhanced pyrolysis and effective formation of cyclic hydrocarbons. (author)