Catalytic co-pyrolysis of palm kernel shell and polypropylene to enhance pyrolysis yield and quality in a fixed-bed reactor

To enhance the yield of pyrolysis oil produced in a fixed bed reactor by catalytic co-pyrolysis of palm kernel shell (PKS) and polypropylene (PP). The effects of two types of metal loading on catalytic co-pyrolysis pyrolysis yields and chemical components of pyrolysis oil were investigated. The various Zn-loading (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.% and 20 wt.%) and Ga-loading (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.%, 20 wt.% and 25 wt.%) electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) catalysts was prepared via wet impregnation. The maximum pyrolysis oil of 63.66 wt. % and 57.99 wt. %, respectively, were achieved at 5 wt. % Zn-loading and 15 wt. % Ga-loading, with a blending ratio of PKS-to-PP ratio of 50:50 at a temperature of 500°C. The result shows that highest pyrolysis oil of 63.66 wt.% and 57.99 wt.% were achieved at 5 wt.% of Zn-loading and 15 wt.% of Ga-loading, respectively, with blending ratio of PKS-to-PP ratio of 50:50, temperature of 500 ˚C. For Zn loading, the maximum percentages of hydrocarbon (43.96 wt. % and 37.49 wt. %) and alcohol (15.78 wt. % and 10.4 wt. %) were achieved at 5 wt. % and 20 wt. %, respectively, while for Ga loading, the maximum percentages were achieved at 20 wt. % and 25 wt. %. The metal loadings were chosen to be 5 wt.% Zn loading and 15 wt.% Ga loading.