Effect of temperature on HDPE prepared by Catalytic Pyrolysis, FTIR analysis, and its applications

Abstract

Plastic wastescause environmental pollution, so its proper disposal is essential. On the other hand, petroleum resources are depleting due to the increasing population and scarcity of it. Hence it is necessary to find alternative sources for fossil fuels. Household plastic wastes can be converted into petroleum products by pyrolysis. It gives LDPE, HDPE, and PP. Before pyrolysis shredding, washing and drying of plastic wastes were done manually. The pyrolysis was carried out with and without catalysts at a temperature from 150-degree centigrade to 400-degree centigrade, 

In this research-based project, selective forms of plastics are situated concerning their catalytic conversion. Further characterization of products and their utility was also screened scientifically to showcase a practical and small-scale option to resolve these significant environmental challenges.

Though recycling of plastic waste can be done by thermal, mechanical, chemical means, they have certain limitations. Compared to mechanical and chemical recycling, thermal treatment of plastic waste is gaining more importance in recent years because of the simple process and flexibility in raw material availability.

In the pyrolysis process, plastic waste is heated at a higher temperature ranging from 100 to 390 degrees Celsius in absence of oxygen for a certain period for breaking of polymer molecules into monomers and vapours generated are condensed to obtain liquid and gaseous fuel. Pyrolysis generates liquid fuel and high calorific value natural gas as main products with char as a by-product. These can be utilized as a feedstock to solve the problem of plastic waste and to recover high calorific value fuel from waste plastic.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Theoptical results were determined from the transmission, reflection and absorption spectra for these films. Thedielectric properties of these films were calculated using optical methods. The result indicates small variationin crystallinity which could be increased or decreased depending on the relative importance of thestructural and chemical changes.

 Keywords: Catalytic Conversion, Fourier Transform Infrared pectroscopy (FTIR),pyrolysis, Polymer thin film, Low-density olyethylene, Spectroscopic studies,  Optical and dielectric properties