Waste plastics-lignite coliquefaction innovations

This paper presents a detailed study of post-consumer polymers coliquefacti on with lignite assessing the feasibility of the new processes. The results of four series coprocessing experiments undertaken with and without cataly sts on a suite of four heavy organic solvents are summarized initially. Tak ing into consideration the prescribed findings two newer series of experime nts were also designed and carried out aiming at the optimization of this c omplex transformation using this time lignite oxidatively pretreated. The c onversion of reacting solids into gaseous and liquid products and in partic ular into hexane and tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble material was determined. It was found that the mentioned hydroliquefaction is a promising way of hy drocarbon synthesis and that oxidatively pretreated lignite proved more eff ective than the raw material since it promoted coliquefaction product yield s sufficiently. It was also found that interactions and synergy of the cata lysts employed was changing as a function of the solvents nature, influenci ng thus the efficacy of the conversions achieved. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.