Pt-promoted sulfated zirconia as catalyst for hydrocracking of LDPE plastic waste into liquid fuels

The conversion of LDPE plastic waste into liquid fuels over commercial zirconia nanopowder (ZrO2) with a fixed amount of sulfate and different amounts of Pt was systematically studied. The aims of this research were focused on the preparation of Pt-promoted sulfated zirconia (Pt/SZ) and study the effect of different concentrations of Pt on SZ for hydrocracking reaction of LDPE plastic waste. The SZ was prepared by dispersing ZrO2 in H2SO4 solution. The obtained SZ was refluxed in aqueous solutions of PtCl4 (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 wt% Pt). The catalyst samples were calcined and followed by H2 reduction to produce Pt1/SZ, Pt2/SZ and Pt3/SZ. The catalysts were characterized by FTIR, XRD, GSA, TEM, SEM-EDS and EDXRF. A larger concentration of Pt on SZ led to increase the activity and selectivity for catalytic hydrocracking of LDPE plastic waste. The liquid yields were analyzed by GC-MS. This study found that the hydrocracking process was carried out effectively at 250 °C. The hydrocracking reaction of LDPE plastic waste over Pt3/SZ produced the highest gasoline-range fuels conversion, reached 67.51 wt%. The liquid yield consisted of hydrocarbon compounds with atom chain of C5-C20 indicated fuel chemical structures, such as paraffins, olefins, isoparaffins, naphthenes and aromatics.