Hydrogenolysis-Isomerization of Waste Polyolefin Plastics to Multibranched Liquid Alkanes

Authors

Chi Wing, Alex Tsang, Department of Construction, Environment and Engineering, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Vocational Training CouncilFollow

Staff Page Link

Ir Dr TSANG Chi Wing, Alex

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2022

DOI

doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202202035

Abstract

Upcycling of waste polyolefin plastics still meets with economic and technological challenges in practice. In this work, the catalytic hydrogenolysis-isomerization of nondegradable polyolefin plastic waste to high-value gasoline, diesel, and light lubricants with highly branched chain is achieved over a bifunctional Rh/Nb2O5 catalyst under relatively mild conditions. Owing to the high efficiency of metallic Rh active sites, the dehydrogenation/hydrogenation of long carbon chains of polyolefins is enhanced. With the assistance of strong Brønsted acidity of Nb2O5, the cleavage of C􀀀 C bonds, skeletal rearrangements, as well as the β-scission of alkylcarbenium ions occurs, which boosts the one-step solvent-free catalytic hydrogenolysis and isomerization of polyolefins. In addition, the preliminary economic analysis shows that this technology is economical, feasible, and has great potential in accelerating the transition to a circular plastics economy for sustainable development.

Source Publication

ChemSusChem

Volume Number

16

Recommended Citation

Tsang, C. (2022). Hydrogenolysis-Isomerization of Waste Polyolefin Plastics to Multibranched Liquid Alkanes. ChemSusChem, 16. http://dx.doi.org/doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202202035