Conversion of Waste Polystyrene to Fuel Oil using High Alumina Cement as Catalyst

The global issue of plastic waste accumulation requires a scientific approach to transform it into valuable resources like fuel oil, thereby reducing environmental pollution. Waste polystyrene plastic was converted into fuel oil through catalytic pyrolysis, focusing specifically on the utilization of high alumina cement as a catalyst. A batch reactor of 549.77 cm3 capacity was fabricated for catalytic pyrolysis. The surface properties of high alumina cement were investigated using Brunauer-Emmett- Teller (BET) analysis and compared with those of natural zeolite. The resulting pyrolysis fuel oil was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify functional groups, and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine its components. The findings contribute to the understanding of the efficacy of high alumina cement as a catalyst in waste plastic pyrolysis and its potential advantages over traditional catalysts. Major Findings: Reduction of polystyrene waste entering landfills, thereby contributing to the overall decrease in solid waste accumulation. Identification of novel catalyst with better surface area for catalytic pyrolysis of waste polystyrene. Fabrication of a batch reactor to improve the yield and reduce the time taken for catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastic.