Catalytic Degradation of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Over USY Catalyst: Effect of Catalyst to Polymer Ratio

Catalytic degradation of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) has been investigated using non-isothermal thermogravimetric analyses of the polyolefin samples mixed with different amounts of ultra-stable Y (USY) zeolite catalyst to assess the effect of catalyst to polymer ratio (0, 0.2, 0.6, and 1) on several events of catalytic decomposition, reflected as the onset, maximum rate and completion temperatures. The obtained results revealed that upon increasing of catalyst to polymer ratio from 0 to 1, the onset temperature decreased by more than 150 K while the decrease for the maximum-rate and completion temperatures were approximately 80 and 70 K, respectively. The results presented useful data for the reactor design of the plastic waste degradation process.