CONTINUOUS UPGRADING OF A PLASTICS PYROLYSIS LIQUID TO AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FAVORABLE GASOLINE RANGE PRODUCT

A residual liquid from plastics pyrolysis was upgraded to a gasoline r ange product using a three-step sequential process consisting of hydro treating, hydrocracking and distillation. Two sequences of treatments were performed in nominal 100-h continuous runs, with overall gasoline range product yields of 46% and 53% based on the total liquid feed. T he gasoline range product produced from upgrading the residual plastic s pyrolysis liquid, when compared to a mid-grade commercial gasoline, was characterized by higher paraffins, lower aromatics, olefins and ni trogen, with comparable research octane number. These properties, evid enced by the gasoline fraction produced from the pyrolysis liquid, ind icate a potentially more favorable gasoline from an environmental view point. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.