Hydrodepolymerization Catalyst for Plastic Waste Recycling

The patent combines depolymerization and hydrogenation functions into a single catalyst system containing both acidic components (for depolymerization) and metal components (for hydrogenation). This merged approach allows simultaneous breakdown of polymer chains and reduction of aromatic/olefinic content in one reactor, eliminating the need for separate purification steps while achieving both recycling capability and product purity

The catalyst system uses composite material structure combining acidic components (such as zeolites or alumina) with metal components (such as nickel, palladium, or platinum) supported on inorganic carriers. This composite catalyst enables dual functionality - depolymerization of plastic waste and hydrogenation to reduce aromatic and olefinic content - thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision

The patent employs parameter changes by conducting hydrodepolymerization under controlled hydrogen pressure (1-100 bar) and temperature (200-500°C) conditions, which optimize both reaction efficiency and energy utilization. The metal catalyst components facilitate hydrogenation reactions that proceed more efficiently under these controlled parameters, improving both productivity and energy efficiency compared to conventional thermal pyrolysis

The patent replaces purely thermal mechanical energy input (conventional pyrolysis) with a catalytic chemical system that uses hydrogen and metal catalysts to drive depolymerization and hydrogenation. This substitution of mechanical/thermal processing with catalytic chemical processing improves energy efficiency and yields by lowering activation energy requirements and enabling more complete conversion of plastic waste to useful products