Insights into the development of greener mild zeolite dealumination routes applied to the hydrocracking of waste plastics

Muhammad Usman Azam; Waheed Afzal; Auguste Fernandes; Ines Biscaya Semedo Pereira da Graca

doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2024.119873

Insights into the development of greener mild zeolite dealumination routes applied to the hydrocracking of waste plastics

Muhammad Usman Azam, Waheed Afzal^* (Corresponding Author), Auguste Fernandes, Ines Biscaya Semedo Pereira da Graca^* (Corresponding Author)

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This study highlights novel, energy and environmentally friendly and less time-consuming,
methods to dealuminate zeolites, by forced convective steaming and use of molecular CO2. Zeolites with comparable (or superior) physicochemical properties than those of traditional
dealumination techniques were produced. All dealuminated zeolites were tested for the
hydrocracking of high-density polyethylene, showing considerably high activity and selectivity
for lighter oils, particularly gasoline. The forced convective steaming zeolite revealed to be the best, given its high number of silanol groups, acidity and porosity, and lower environmental impact. Furthermore, bi-functional Ni-loaded dealuminated zeolites showed good stability and ability to be regenerated. Therefore, it is possible to generate hierarchical zeolites by dealumination with physicochemical and catalytic properties comparable to their rival technologies, following green chemistry metrics. Given the relevance of hierarchical zeolites in sustainable routes to produce chemicals and fuels, the potential of application of these newly developed catalysts is highly promising and vast.

Original language	English
Article number	119873
Number of pages	14
Journal	Applied Catalysis A: General
Volume	685
Early online date	14 Jul 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2024.119873
Publication status	Published - 25 Sept 2024

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements
This study was funded by The LEVERHULME TRUST (Grant DS-2017-073). Muhammad Usman Azam, a Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholar, is part of the 15 PhD scholarships of the “Leverhulme Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Production of Chemicals and Materials” at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, United Kingdom). Auguste Fernandes thanks Portuguese FCT for funding (CQE - UIDB/00100/2020 and UIDP/00100/2020; IMS -LA/P/0056/2020; contract hiring under DL57/2016 law). The authors also acknowledge Dr Alan McCue (University of Aberdeen, UK) and Gillian Milne (Senior Histology Technician, UoA) for providing technical support during catalyst characterizations.

Data Availability Statement

All data is provided either on the manuscript or as supporting information.

Keywords

Greener zeolite dealumination
Hierarchical zeolites
Life cycle assessment
HDPE hydrocracking
Catalyst recyclability

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/4.0/).
Final published version, 5.08 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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abstract = "This study highlights novel, energy and environmentally friendly and less time-consuming,methods to dealuminate zeolites, by forced convective steaming and use of molecular CO2. Zeolites with comparable (or superior) physicochemical properties than those of traditionaldealumination techniques were produced. All dealuminated zeolites were tested for thehydrocracking of high-density polyethylene, showing considerably high activity and selectivityfor lighter oils, particularly gasoline. The forced convective steaming zeolite revealed to be the best, given its high number of silanol groups, acidity and porosity, and lower environmental impact. Furthermore, bi-functional Ni-loaded dealuminated zeolites showed good stability and ability to be regenerated. Therefore, it is possible to generate hierarchical zeolites by dealumination with physicochemical and catalytic properties comparable to their rival technologies, following green chemistry metrics. Given the relevance of hierarchical zeolites in sustainable routes to produce chemicals and fuels, the potential of application of these newly developed catalysts is highly promising and vast. ",

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note = "Acknowledgements This study was funded by The LEVERHULME TRUST (Grant DS-2017-073). Muhammad Usman Azam, a Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholar, is part of the 15 PhD scholarships of the “Leverhulme Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Production of Chemicals and Materials” at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, United Kingdom). Auguste Fernandes thanks Portuguese FCT for funding (CQE - UIDB/00100/2020 and UIDP/00100/2020; IMS -LA/P/0056/2020; contract hiring under DL57/2016 law). The authors also acknowledge Dr Alan McCue (University of Aberdeen, UK) and Gillian Milne (Senior Histology Technician, UoA) for providing technical support during catalyst characterizations.",

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N1 - Acknowledgements This study was funded by The LEVERHULME TRUST (Grant DS-2017-073). Muhammad Usman Azam, a Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholar, is part of the 15 PhD scholarships of the “Leverhulme Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Production of Chemicals and Materials” at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, United Kingdom). Auguste Fernandes thanks Portuguese FCT for funding (CQE - UIDB/00100/2020 and UIDP/00100/2020; IMS -LA/P/0056/2020; contract hiring under DL57/2016 law). The authors also acknowledge Dr Alan McCue (University of Aberdeen, UK) and Gillian Milne (Senior Histology Technician, UoA) for providing technical support during catalyst characterizations.

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N2 - This study highlights novel, energy and environmentally friendly and less time-consuming,methods to dealuminate zeolites, by forced convective steaming and use of molecular CO2. Zeolites with comparable (or superior) physicochemical properties than those of traditionaldealumination techniques were produced. All dealuminated zeolites were tested for thehydrocracking of high-density polyethylene, showing considerably high activity and selectivityfor lighter oils, particularly gasoline. The forced convective steaming zeolite revealed to be the best, given its high number of silanol groups, acidity and porosity, and lower environmental impact. Furthermore, bi-functional Ni-loaded dealuminated zeolites showed good stability and ability to be regenerated. Therefore, it is possible to generate hierarchical zeolites by dealumination with physicochemical and catalytic properties comparable to their rival technologies, following green chemistry metrics. Given the relevance of hierarchical zeolites in sustainable routes to produce chemicals and fuels, the potential of application of these newly developed catalysts is highly promising and vast.

AB - This study highlights novel, energy and environmentally friendly and less time-consuming,methods to dealuminate zeolites, by forced convective steaming and use of molecular CO2. Zeolites with comparable (or superior) physicochemical properties than those of traditionaldealumination techniques were produced. All dealuminated zeolites were tested for thehydrocracking of high-density polyethylene, showing considerably high activity and selectivityfor lighter oils, particularly gasoline. The forced convective steaming zeolite revealed to be the best, given its high number of silanol groups, acidity and porosity, and lower environmental impact. Furthermore, bi-functional Ni-loaded dealuminated zeolites showed good stability and ability to be regenerated. Therefore, it is possible to generate hierarchical zeolites by dealumination with physicochemical and catalytic properties comparable to their rival technologies, following green chemistry metrics. Given the relevance of hierarchical zeolites in sustainable routes to produce chemicals and fuels, the potential of application of these newly developed catalysts is highly promising and vast.

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Insights into the development of greener mild zeolite dealumination routes applied to the hydrocracking of waste plastics

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

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