EFFECT OF IRRADIATION ON PYROLYSIS OF POLYPROPYLENE IN THE PRESENCE OF ZEOLITES

For recycling of waste polymers, the degradation behavior of PP was st udied with a combination of radiolysis and thermolysis methods. The re sults revealed that thermal degradation temperature of PP was signific antly reduced when PP was irradiated in the presence of a zeolite. The irradiation-induced temperature reduction depended on the zeolite str ucture and composition, as well as on the morphology of the mixture. I dentification of pyrolysis products indicated that, in the absence of zeolite, irradiation resulted only in a change of the product distribu tion but no formation of new compounds. In the presence of zeolite, ho wever, a series of oxidized products were formed. In addition, the pyr olysis could be performed at a much lower temperature. (C) 1996 Elsevi er Science Limited