Co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and plastic waste to produce sustainable biofuels

Abstract

In the present work, the results obtained from the thermal and catalytic co-pyrolysis of biomass from the peanut shell (B) and plastic waste of the type polyethylene (PE) are exposed. The catalysts used are natural zeolites Clinoptilolite (ZN) type obtained from the San Juan-Argentina, which have been modified by thermal treatments and zinc incorporation. The catalytic materials used were characterized by XRD, surface area by the BET method and acidity by FTIR of pyridine adsorbed and desorbed at 150 ° C. The experimental tests were carried out in a fixed bed tubular reactor that operated at atmospheric pressure and 500 ° C for 20 min. With respect to the purely thermal reaction, the addition of LDPE produced a decrease of 25% of oxygenated organic components and their corresponding increase to products of the hydrocarbon type. It was observed that the use of natural zeolites improved the quality of the bio-oil obtained; Zn-ZN zeolite being the one that produced the greatest deoxygenation.