Plastic materials are widely used throughout the world due to their low prices and easy processing methods. A serious problem of environmental pollution is brought with the widespread use of these materials due to their non-biodegradabilty. For this reason, plastic materials are degraded into lower molecular weight liquid and gaseous products which are potential raw materials and fuels for petrochemical industry. The use of catalysts enhances the formation of more valuable hydrocarbons at lower reaction temperatures and residence times. In this study, aluminum containing MCM-41 and tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) loaded SBA-15 materials were synthesized by impregnation of Al and TPA into hydrothermally synthesized MCM-41 and SBA-15, respectively to be used in catalytic degradation of polyethylene. Al was incorporated into MCM-41 framework with different Al/Si ratios using aluminum triisopropylate as the aluminum source and TPA was incorporated to the porous framework of SBA-15 with different W/Si ratios, using tungstophosphoric acid hydrate as the acid source. From XRD analysis, it was observed that introducing acidic compounds did not cause deformations in the regularity and by EDS analysis, it was found out that at lower loadings, acidic compounds were introduced more effectively for MCM-41 materials. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms showed that the synthesized materials exhibited type IV isotherms. SEM and TEM pictures showed the hexagonal regularly ordered structure of SBA-15 and MCM-41 materials. FTIR analysis of the pyridine adsorbed synthesized materials revealed the existence of Lewis and Br&oslash / nsted acid sites in the synthesized materials. From TGA analysis it was observed that aluminum impregnated MCM-41 samples reduced the temperature of the degradation reaction significantly and TPA loaded SBA-15 samples reduced activation energy of the reaction effectively. In the degradation reaction system, non-catalytic and catalytic degradation experiments of polyethylene were performed. In non-catalytic degradation and catalytic degradation reactions carried out using aluminum containing MCM-41 materials, selectivity of C3 and C4 hydrocarbon gases was high and in catalytic degradation reactions carried out using TPA impregnated SBA-15 materials, selectivity of ethylene was high. In the liquid analysis of non-catalytic degradation reactions, it was observed that the product distribution was mainly composed of hydrocarbons greater than C18. The use of aluminum loaded MCM-41 and TPA loaded SBA-15 materials resulted in a liquid product distribution in the range of C5-C14, which is the hydrocarbon range of gasoline fuel.

Polystyrene (PS) is one of the most important polymers in the plastic sector due to its inexpensive cost as well as many preferred properties. Its international market is expected to achieve $28.2 billion by 2019. Although PS has a high calorific value of 87 GJ tonne-1, there is no a practical method to manage its waste but landfill. As a result, the PS debris in the oceans has reached 70% of the total plastic debris. This issue is considered as the main economical and environmental drivers of converting polystyrene waste into renewable chemical feedstocks. The aim of this work is to develop a catalyst for converting PS into renewable chemicals under mild conditions. We introduce FeCu/Alumina with excellent catalytic activity to fully degrade polystyrene with 66% liquid yield at 250 °C. The GC/MS confirmed that the primary products are in the gasoline range. Next, we present the bimetallic FeCo/Alumina and successfully we have obtained 100% PS conversion and 90% liquid yield with maintaining the products selectivity. Later, the tri-metallic FeCuCo/Alumina was synthesized and showed 100% PS conversion and 91% liquid yield. Surprisingly, ethylbenzene was the major product in which 80 wt. % was achieved with excellent reproducibility. Furthermore, the real waste Styrofoam was thermally and catalytically degraded at 250 °C. Interestingly, a high styrene content of 78 wt. % was recovered after 30 minutes of the reaction under mild conditions. Keeping in mind that a good balance between acidity and basicity is required to convert PS into aromatic under mild reaction conditions catalytically. Finally, the performance of the catalysts was compared to literature reports and showed novel liquid yields. In conclusion, we have synthesized cheap, easy to scale up, and efficient catalysts to fully degrade PS into high liquid yields of aromatics with excellent selectivity.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-22T22:02:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Vera Lucia Imbiriba Bentes.pdf: 2492256 bytes, checksum: 6177030a4e14eea635a818dbbb2b0e91 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-11-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The growing use and application of plastic materials have raised the index of residues of these materials in the great cities, mainly poli(ethylene tereftalate) (PET). Amongst the recycling techniques proposals to minimize the accumulation of these polymeric residues, the chemical recycling, has intensified the interest, on the part of the scientific community, a time that products of a high aggregate value can be achieved, that they can be used in new industrial processes. Of this form, the present work had as objective, to investigate the solubility of the PET postconsumer in different chemical agents, to promote the depolymerization chemical of the PET by hydrolysis basic and to carry preliminary study of the degradation of monomers post-hydrolysis through heterogeneous Fenton reaction using pure and Co- and Mn-doped magnetites catalysts, as source of Fe2+ in H2O2 having as molecule of reference for the study, the methylene blue (MB). The hydrolysis reaction was carried in reflux system under temperature of 110 oC for three hours using NaOH 7.5 mol L-1 as catalytic and the gotten products had been characterized by spectroscopic method in the region of the IV. The reactions of heterogeneous Fenton had been monitored by UV-visible measurements. Between the gotten results, it could be verified (i) PET solubility in phenol concentrated solution of about 40 oC; (ii) the chemical recycling of the PET presented yield of 99.72 % with recovery of monomers terephthalic acid (AT) and ethylene glycol (EG) monomers which were characterized by IV; (iii) the study of degradation of the methylene blue (MB) 20 mg L-1 was monitored by UV-visible measurements in λmax = 663 nm thus the kinetic model that better described the process was of the pseudo first-order, disclosing bigger capacity of degradation for the doped magnetite catalysers with Co and Mn, respectively; (iv) degradation of AT, was observed in λmax = 283 nm and had a similar behavior to the reference molecule; (v) the loss of the organic load of the solution afterhydrolysis of the PET was bottle was analyzed qualitatively by comparison of the spectrums obtained by FT-IV/ATR before and after of the heterogeneous Fenton reaction. Thus the results gotten in this work are considered satisfactory and promising for news studies future. / O crescente uso e aplicação de materiais plásticos tem elevado os índices de resíduos desses materiais nos lixões das grandes cidades, principalmente, o poli(tereftalato de etileno) (PET). Dentre as técnicas de reciclagem propostas para minimizar o acúmulo desses resíduos poliméricos, a reciclagem química, tem despertado maior interesse por parte da comunidade científica, uma vez que se podem obter produtos de elevado valor agregado, que podem ser utilizados em novos processos industriais. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho teve como objetivos, investigar a solubilidade do PET pós-consumo em diferentes agentes químicos, promover a despolimerização química do PET via hidrólise básica e realizar estudo preliminar da degradação dos monômeros pós-hidrólise através de reação de Fenton heterogênea utilizando catalisadores de magnetitas pura e dopadas com Co e Mn, como fonte de Fe2+em presença de H2O2, tendo como molécula de referência para o estudo, o corante azul de metileno (MB). A reação de hidrólise foi conduzida em sistema de refluxo sob temperatura de 110oC por três horas, utilizando NaOH 7,5 molL-1 como catalisador da reação e os produtos finais foram caracterizados por método espectroscópico na região de absorção do IV. As reações de Fenton heterogênea foram monitoradas através de medidas espectrofotométricas na região do UV-visível. Entre os resultados obtidos, pôde-se verificar (i) a solubilidade do PET em solução concentrada de fenol ∼ 40 oC; (ii) a reciclagem química do PET apresentou rendimento de 99,72 % com recuperação dos monômeros do ácido tereftálico (AT) e de etileno glicol (EG) que foram caracterizados por IV; (iii) o estudo da degradação da molécula de referência, MB 20 mg L -1, foi monitorado em λ = 663 nm, de maneira que o modelo cinético que melhor descreveu o processo foi o de pseudo primeira-ordem, revelando maior capacidade de degradação para os catalisadores de magnetitas dopadas com Co e Mn, respectivamente; (iv) a degradação do AT, foi observado em λ = 283 nm e teve comportamento semelhante ao da molécula de referência; (v) a perda de carga orgânica da solução pós-hidrólise do PET foi feita qualitativamente por comparação dos espectros IV/ATR das amostras de solução pós-hidrólise antes e depois de submetida á reação de Fenton. De maneira geral os resultados obtidos neste trabalho são considerados satisfatórios e promissores para outros futuros estudos.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:41:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 StevieHLpdf.pdf: 1475886 bytes, checksum: e83c49569bddebb612701e2de7e607bc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-31 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / In last years it has talked a lot about the environment and the plastic waste produced and discarded. In last decades, the increasing development of research to obtain fuel from plastic material, by catalytic degradation, it has become a very attractive looking, as these tailings are discarded to millions worldwide. These materials take a long time to degrade themselves by ways said natural and burning it has not demonstrated a viable alternative due to the toxic products produced during combustion. Such products could bring serious consequences to public health and environment. Therefore, the technique of chemical recycling is presented as a suitable alternative, especially since could be obtain fractions of liquid fuels that can be intended to the petrochemical industry. This work aims to propose alternatives to the use of plastic waste in the production of light petrochemical. Zeolites has been widely used in the study of this process due to its peculiar structural properties and its high acidity. In this work was studied the reaction of catalytic degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in the presence HZSM-12 zeolites with different acid sites concentrations by thermogravimetry and pyrolysis coupled with GC-MS. The samples of the catalysts were mixed with HDPE in the proportion of 50% in mass and submitted to thermogravimetric analyses in several heating rates. The addition of solids with different acid sites concentrations to HDPE, produced a decrease in the temperature of degradation of the polymer proportional the acidity of the catalyst. These qualitative results were complemented by the data of activation energy obtained through the non-isothermal kinetics model proposed by Vyazovkin. The values of Ea when correlated to the data of surface acidity of the catalysts indicated that there is a exponential decrease of the energy of activation in the reaction of catalytic degradation of HDPE, in function of the concentration of acid sites of the materials. These results indicate that the acidity of the catalyst added to the system is one of the most important properties in the reaction of catalytic degradation of polyethylene / Nos ?ltimos anos tem-se falado muito sobre o meio ambiente e sobre o lixo pl?stico produzido e descartado. Nas ?ltimas d?cadas, o crescente desenvolvimento de pesquisas com o intuito de obter combust?veis a partir de material pl?stico, via degrada??o catal?tica, tem-se tornado uma busca muito atrativa, j? que esses rejeitos s?o descartados aos milh?es em todo mundo. Esses materiais levam muito tempo para se degradar por meios ditos naturais e sua incinera??o n?o tem se demonstrado uma alternativa vi?vel devido aos produtos t?xicos produzidos durante sua combust?o. Tais produtos conseq?entes poderiam trazer s?rios problemas de sa?de p?blica e ambiental. Logo, a t?cnica da reciclagem qu?mica apresenta-se como uma alternativa adequada, inclusive porque podemos obter fra??es leves do petr?leo que podem ser destinadas ao setor petroqu?mico. Este trabalho tem como objetivo propor alternativas para o aproveitamento de lixo pl?stico na produ??o de combust?veis l?quidos. Ze?litas tem sido amplamente utilizada no estudo desse processo devido ?s suas propriedades estruturais peculiares e sua alta acidez. Neste trabalho, investigou-se a rea??o de degrada??o de Polietileno de Alta Densidade (PEAD) na presen?a de HZSM-12, com diferentes concentra??es de s?tios ?cidos, atrav?s da termogravimetria e pir?lise acoplada ? cromatografia ? g?s e ao espectr?metro de massa (Py-GC-MS). As amostras de catalisadores foram misturadas com PEAD na propor??o de 50% em massa e submetidas a an?lises em diferentes taxas de aquecimento. A adi??o de catalisadores com diferentes concentra??es de s?tios ?cidos produziu uma diminui??o na temperatura de degrada??o do pol?mero proporcional ? acidez do catalisador. Estes resultados qualitativos foram complementados por dados da energia de ativa??o (Ea) obtidos atrav?s do modelo cin?tico n?o-isot?rmico proposto por Vyazovkin. Os valores das Ea quando correlacionados com os dados da acidez superficial dos catalisadores, indicaram que h? uma redu??o exponencial da Ea da rea??o catal?tica de degrada??o em fun??o da concentra??o dos s?tios ?cidos dos materiais, indicando que esta propriedade ? significativa neste tipo de rea??o