| Summary: | The hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blended with vacuum gas oil (VGO) has been studied to assess the effect of H<sub>2</sub> pressure on the yield and composition of the products and with the aim of obtaining commercial fuels, mainly naphtha. The experiments have been performed using a PtPd/HY catalyst in a semibatch reactor under the following conditions: H<sub>2</sub> pressure, 20–110 bar; 440 °C; catalyst to feed ratio, 0.1 g<sub>cat</sub> (g<sub>feed</sub>)<sup>−1</sup>; HDPE to total feed ratio, 0.2 g<sub>HDPE</sub> (g<sub>feed</sub>)<sup>−1</sup>; and reaction time, 2 h. The composition of the main fractions produced (gas, naphtha, and light cycle oil) reveals the interest in carrying out the process at 110 bar. Thus, conversions of 96 and 79% for the removal of heavy hydrocarbons and the removal of HDPE molecules have been obtained, respectively, together with a yield of naphtha of 53.4 wt%. This naphtha is mainly paraffinic, and it has a RON of 91.5 (within the commercial standards). Furthermore, three fractions have been observed in the analysis (temperature-programmed oxidation) of the coke. This analysis reveals that at 110 bar, the coke retained in the HY zeolite cages is less developed and burns at a moderate temperature.
|
|---|