INFRARED STUDY OF THE DECOMPOSITION OF POLYSTYRENE OVER SUPPORTED RHODIUM

A combined study utilizing infrared spectroscopy and a tubular microre actor on the decomposition of polystyrene over supported rhodium has b een performed. The primary product detected by infrared was methane, b ut only when hydrogen gas was present and only at temperatures higher (523 K) than those necessary (501 K) for hydrogenation of the aromatic rings on polystyrene. Temperatures necessary for production of methan e over Rh/SiO2 (573 K) were higher than those for Rh/Al2O3 (523 K). Th e tubular microreactor studies showed that the yield of methane during sample decomposition was low compared to those of higher hydrocarbons not detected by infrared.