The_Catalyst_Review_November_2023 - 3

1. Natural Zeolites
2. Y Zeolite
3. FCC Catalyst
4. ZSM-5
5. HZSM-5
6. Calcium Hydroxide Ca (OH)2
7. Aluminium Oxide Al 2
8. Ferric Oxide Fe2
O3
O3
9. High-temperature stabilizers
like Phosphites, Phosphates,
Lanthanide Oxide, Cerium
The fluidized bed reactors appear to be the most popular on the lines of classical FCC units. The
likely catalysts combination could be as mentioned above to optimize the selectivity and the product
yield. Typically, pyrolysis is carried out at temperature ranging from 500 to 800 °C with 450 °C being
minimum and 900 °C being maximum. The higher the temperature, the higher the product yield;
the higher the temperature, higher is the yield of gaseous products.
Gaseous products include lower alkanes or lower alkenes. Lower alkanes can be used as fuel or
feedstock for gas cracker. Lower alkenes namely ethylene and propylene can be blended or used as
chemical grade monomers and subjected to further purification to polymer grade.
Liquid products produced can be blended with diesel or gasoline or kerosene, which can be used as
liquid fuels. Solid or residue products can be used as carbon black feed stock (CBFS) or in bitumen
or simply as coke. Typical composition varies as per the conditions mentioned above.
Gaseous = 20 to 40% Liquid = 50 to 70%
Solid / Residue = 10 to 20%
The Potential Catalyst Requirement for Pyrolysis of Plastics
We can assume the simple catalyst productivity in line with FCC operation for pyrolysis of plastics
waste that is 1 kg catalyst per Metric Tonne (MT) of feed. Thus, for 14.4 million MTPY plastic waste
feed stock, the catalyst requirement would be 14400 MT (1.2% compared to estimated 1.2 million
MTPY production of FCC catalyst) to produce 9 to 10 million MTPY of useful hydrocarbons such as
fuels or olefins.
The emerging Plastic Waste to Chemicals (PWTC) complexes of the future could be expected to
integrate refinery and olefins plants with plastic waste pyrolysis plants to generate value-added
products ranging from fuels to olefins - to give rise to novel process integration.
The potential pyrolysis catalysts suppliers are expected to be among the existing FCC catalysts
producers, for example BASF SE, W R Grace & Co, Ketjen, China Petroleum & Chemicals Corporation,
JGC Catalysts & Chemicals, to name a few. Other speciality catalysts producers could be among
Axens or Clariant International in addition to new entrants.
Challenges in the Field of Development of Pyrolysis Catalysts
* Develop selective zeolites with appropriate additives for pyrolysis of plastics.
* Better stability towards poisons.
* Better stability towards temperatures higher than 600 °C.
* More selective towards light olefins.
* More selective towards middle distillates.
* Least production of residue.
Concluding Thoughts
It will be imperative in coming decade to gradually move towards circular economy by integrating
pyrolysis of plastic wastes with upstream refining and petrochemicals plants producing fuels and
monomers for polymer plants.
Your Author
Jayant D. Divey is currently working as polyolefins technology consultant supporting
technology evaluation, process design and troubleshooting. He has previously
worked with Reliance Industries Limited as Senior Vice President responsible for
polyolefins technologies. He has four decades extensive experience in practically all
the HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE and PP technologies. Divey's areas of interest and expertise
ranges from polyolefins catalysts and reaction systems to products. He holds B
Tech (BS) from Laxminarayan Institute of Technology Nagpur University and M Tech
(MS) from Indian Institute Technology Bombay - both in Chemical Engineering.
Suggested Reading
Plastics - The facts 2020, an analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data,
Publication of Plastics Europe, 2020.
The Catalyst Review
The Catalyst Review
THE CATALYST REVIEW
(ISSN 0898-3089)
November 2023, Volume 36, Issue 11
Published by The Catalyst Group
Resources, Inc., 750 Bethlehem Pike,
Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002, USA
+1-215-628-4447 Fax +1-215-628-2267
thecatalystreview@catalystgrp.com
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Catalyst Group Resources, Inc.
750 Bethlehem Pike
Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002, USA
Copyright 2023 The Catalyst Group
Resources, Inc. All rights reserved. Legal
Disclaimer. Copyright Clearance Center.
The Catalyst Group Resources, Inc. is
a division of The Catalyst Group, Inc.,
a worldwide technical & commercial
consultancy specializing in chemical
process-driven change. The Catalyst
Group Resources, Inc. is dedicated to
helping clients understand the business
impacts of
technology change.
CEO/PUBLISHER
John J. Murphy
MANAGING EDITOR
Kevin O'Brien
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Meedah Spence
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Eugene F. McInerney, PhD
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Salvatore Ali, PhD
Michele Aresta, PhD
Miguel A. Banares, PhD
Carlos A. Cabrera, MBA
Gabriele Centi, PhD
Avelino Corma, PhD
Frits Dautzenberg, PhD
Jayant D. Divey
George Huber, PhD
Michelle Lynch, PhD
Vishwas Pangarkar, PhD
Stephany Romanow
Gadi Rothenberg, PhD
Woody Shiflett, PhD
Marcio Wagner da Silva, PhD
Stefan Wieland, PhD
Copyright ©2023 by The Catalyst Group
Resources, Inc. All rights reserved. Words
in all capital letters are either tradenames
or acronyms for company names. Readers
are advised that tradenames are registered
marks protected by applicable law.
Reproduction and copying in any form
without written permission is prohibited.
Subscribers may quote one or two articles
per issue if the publisher is notified in
writing and the source is cited. Information
of this subscription is provided as a service.
Subscribers agree that the use of this
information is solely at their own discretion.
No warranty or guarantee is provided
by the publishers. Subscribers agree
to indemnify and hold harmless the
publishers on any use including loss or
damages. The publisher's sole responsibility
is to publish corrections upon notification.
November 2023
November 2023
3
3

The_Catalyst_Review_November_2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The_Catalyst_Review_November_2023