Corn Cob-derived Activated Carbon Catalysts for Pyrolysis of Polypropylene Waste into Kerosene-range Hydrocarbons

Abstract

The widespread disposal of waste plastics, such as polypropylene, in landfills and coastal areas, coupled with the increasing demand for sustainable aviation fuels, has motivated researchers to explore the conversion of waste plastics into valuable hydrocarbon fuels. This study investigates the use of corncob as an alternative to synthetic catalysts in the pyrolysis of waste polypropylene (PP) to produce liquid hydrocarbons within the aviation fuel range (C8–C16) addressing both waste management and the demand for sustainable aviation fuels. The pyrolysis of waste polypropylene was conducted using activated corncob catalyst. the characterization involved analyzing its surface morphology, porosity, and elemental composition through techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The pyrolysis process was optimized at a temperature of 6000C with catalyst to feed ratio of 0.1. The characterization of the corncob-activated catalyst revealed a rough surface with heterogeneous cylindrical hollow pores of varying sizes. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis identified phosphorus as the predominant element, with a concentration of 35.542 % mol. The porosity of the activated corncob was measured at 31 %. The pyrolysis process gave an optimal yield of 64.54 % fuel oil. The resulting fuel oil exhibited a carbon distribution of C8–C16 and a specific gravity of 0.775. The physicochemical properties and combustion performance of the produced fuel oil align with the specifications for Jet A-1 and standard Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) aviation fuels. These findings suggest that activated corncob may serve as an economical catalyst for generating kerosene-range fuels through the catalytic pyrolysis of polypropylene waste. This approach not only contributes to sustainable waste management but also enhances energy production by utilizing agricultural waste.