Co-pyrolysis of wood biomass and synthetic polymers mixtures: Part IV: Catalytic pyrolysis of pine wood and polyolefinic polymers mixtures in hydrogen atmosphere

The pyrolysis in a hydrogen atmosphere of pine wood and synthetic polymers (polyethylene and polypropylene) mixtures was studied in a rotating autoclave. The effects of reaction temperature, wood/polymers mixture composition and catalysts, on the mixtures conversion into liquids and gases were established and discussed. The used catalysts were pyrrhotite and haematite materials activated by mechanochemical treatment.In the co-liquefaction processes the interaction between fragments of wood and polymers thermal decomposition took place. This results in non-additive increase of the wood/polymers conversion degree by 10–15 wt.% and of the yield of distillate fractions by 14–19 wt.%. Iron ore materials were found catalytically active in the process of hydropyrolysis of wood/polymers mixtures. By using these catalysts a significant increase of the distillable liquids amounts (by 14–21 wt.%) and a sharp decrease of olefins and cycloparaffins content (by approximately two to three times) were observed.