The Catalytic Effects of Potassium Dichromate on the Pyrolysis of Polymeric Mixtures Part II: Hazelnut Shell and Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene and their Blend Cases

Authors: B. Aydinli, A. Caglar

Abstract:

Renewable energy sources have gained ultimate urgency due to the need of the preservation of the environment for a sustainable development. Pyrolysis is an ultimate promising process in the recycling and acquisition of precious chemicals from wastes. Here, the co-pyrolysis of hazelnut shell with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene was carried out catalytically and noncatalytically at 500 and 650 ºC. Potassium dichromate was added in certain amounts to act as a catalyst. The liquid, solid and gas products quantities were determined by gravimetry. As a main result, remarkable increases in gasification were observed by using this catalyst for pure components and their blends especially at 650 ºC. The increase in gas product quantity was compensated mainly with the decreases in the solid products and additionally in some cases liquid products quantities. These observations may stem from mainly the activation of carbon-carbon bonds rather than carbon-hydrogen bonds via potassium dichromate. Also, the catalytic effect of potassium dichromate on HS: PEO and HS: UHMWPE co-pyrolysis was compared.

Keywords: Hazelnut shell, Polyethylene oxide, Potassium Dichromate, Pyrolysis, UHMWPE

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1062840

References:

[1] http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol.
[2] P.P. Edwards, V.I. Kuznetsov, W.I.F. David, N.P. Brandon, "Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Towards a Sustainable Energy Future" Energy Policy, Vol. 36, no. 12, pp. 4356-4362, Dec. 2008
[3] M.K. Bahn, C. Mukarakate, D.J. Robichoud, M.R. Nimlos, "Current technologies for analysis of biomass thermochemical processing: A review" Anal. Chim. Acta, Vol. 651, no. 2, pp. 117-138 Oct. 2009.
[4] F. Paradela, F. Pinto, A. M. Ramos, I. Gulyurtlu, I. Cabrita," Study of the slow batch pyrolysis of mixtures of plastics, tyres and forestry biomass wastes" J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. Vol. 85, no. 1-2, pp. 392-398, May 2009
[5] S. Li, S. Xu, S. Liu, C. Yang, Q. Lu "Fast pyrolysis of biomass in free-fall reactor for hydrogen-rich gas" Fuel Proces.Technol. Vol. 85, no. 8-10, pp. 1201-1211, Jul. 2004.
[6] Shilov, A.E., and Shul-pin, G.B., 2000. Activation and Catalytic Reactions of Saturated Hydrocarbons in the Presence of Metal Complexes. Catalysis by Metal Complexes. Edited by B.R. James. Kluwer Academic Publishers, USA, pp. 318-363.
[7] Solomons, T.V.G., 1988. Organic Chemistry. John Wiley & Sons, USA, pp. 713-733.
[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_dichromate
[9] Q. Fu, D. S. Argyropoulos, D. C. Tilotta, L. A. Lucia," Understanding the pyrolysis of CCA-treated wood: Part I. Effect of metal ions," J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. Vol. 81, no. 1, pp. 60-64, Jan. 2008
[10] M. Nishimura, S. Iwasaki, M. Horio, "The role of potassium carbonate on cellulose pyrolysis," J. Taiw. Inst. Chem. Engineer. Vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 630-637, Nov. 2009.
[11] B. Aydinli, A. Caglar, "The comparison of hazelnut shell copyrolysis with polyethylene oxide and previous ultra-high molecular weight" J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. Vol. 87, no. 2, pp. 263-268, Mar. 2010.
[12] Z. K. Lin, S.F. Li, "Effects of nano nickel powders addition on flash pyrolysis of poly(ethylene glycol)," Eur. Polym. J. vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 645-652, Mar. 2008.
[13] A. Caglar, B. Aydinli," Isothermal co-pyrolysis of hazelnut shell and Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene: The effect of temperature and composition on the amount of pyrolysis products," J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. Vol. 86, no. 2, pp. 304-309, Nov. 2009.
[14] A. Demirbaş, D. Güllü, A. Çağlar, F. Akdeniz, "Estimation of calorific values of fuels from lignocellulosics Vol. 19, no. 8, pp. 765-770, Oct. 1997.