Catalytic pyrolysis of waste melamine coated chipboard

Catalytic pyrolysis of waste melamine coated chipboard was performed in a fixed‐bed reactor at 400°C, 500°C, 600°C, and 700°C and a residence time of 1 h. The effects of temperature and catalysts on both product distribution and bio‐oil composition were discussed. Lewis acids (AlCl3, TiCl4, and FeCl3), bases (NaOH and KOH), and basic salts (Na2CO3 and K2CO3) were used as catalysts in the pyrolysis process. The product distributions were changed depending on both the type of catalyst and temperature. Bio‐oil obtained from the pyrolysis of melamine coated chipboard contained a large variety of oxygenated hydrocarbons. Phenols were found to be the major compounds identified in bio‐oils for all tested runs. The bio‐oils produced by Lewis acids contained aldehydes. However, the bio‐oils obtained from the thermal run, the run with bases, and the run with basic salts did not contain these compounds. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 156–161, 2013.