S.H Jatau1*, U.Z. Faruq1, M.N Almustapha1, U.Z Umar2, Bashar Hadi1, and Matawalli Ahmed1
1Department of Energy and Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Nigeria
2Department of Human Physiology, Collage of Medical Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: supolausufyan@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.151413
ABSTRACT
Thermal and Catalytic conversion of hospital plastic waste into liquid fuel using kaolin base supported catalysts was conducted, the plastic waste samples were collected from Usmanu Danfodiyo University teaching Hospital Sokoto, which encompassed Drip bags (Linear lowdensity polyethylene LLDPE), Hand gloves (Polyethylene terephthalate PET) and Urine bags (Polyurethane PU). Uncatalyzed pyrolysis was first carried out using thermal cracking only at 300, 350, and 4000C. Catalyzed pyrolysis was also conducted using three different active catalyst mounted on same support and equal catalytic ratio of active catalyst to support. CuO/Kaolin (CAT.A), Fe2O3/Kaolin (CAT.B) and CaO/Kaolin (CAT.C). The catalytic activities of all the three synthesized catalysts were successfully tested in the conversion of hospital plastic waste into liquid fuel. However, the pyrolysis using (CAT.B) was found to be more promising than the others in terms of the liquid selectivity (yield) and the nature of hydrocarbon related compound in the liquid fraction. The results indicated that CAT.B has lower cocking tendency than the others. The FTIR and GC/MS analysis revealed the chemical composition and carbon number distribution of the liquid fraction which indicate the presence of paraffinic, naphthenic and olefins hydrocarbon compounds as the dominant component in the liquid fraction obtained. Thus, the liquid fraction obtained has potential to be used in various energy and transportation applications after further refining process.
Keywords:
Conversion,
Hospital,
Plastic Waste,
Liquid fuel,
Kaolin