Catalytic Conversion of Polyolefins in the Presence of MCM-41 Type Mesoporous Materials

The catalytic activities of mesoporous H–MCM-41 aluminosilicates of different compositions in degradation of polypropylene and a polypropylene-polyethylene mixture into gasoline-range fraction hydrocarbons were compared. A higher yield of the target products (86 wt %) was observed for the sample with a lower aluminum content. Using the results of chromatographic analysis of the catalyzate for the content of the gasoline-range fraction, both saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, dominated by products with cyclic structure, were identified in all the samples studied. In the presence of the H–MCM-41 sample with a lower silica modulus, a larger amount of condensation products with a higher calorific value arose from polypropylene degradation. Mesoporous aluminosilicates H–MCM-41 can be regarded as effective catalysts for thermocatalytic conversion of polypropylene to produce the gasoline-range fraction.