Non-Porous Supported Acid Catalysts for Mixed Polymer Depolymerization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The recycling of polymeric waste materials is hindered by the mixture of different polymers, which affects the control of the heating process, increases energy costs, and diminishes the quality and yield of the resulting products in chemical recycling.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst is developed using an acidic compound deposited on a particulate non-porous support, such as sand or metal particles, with a coating agent, which facilitates the depolymerization of polymeric waste materials into gaseous and liquid products with high selectivity and low char generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different types of polymeric waste material are collected together for chemical recycling, then the recycling process can handle mixed waste streams, but the heating process control is affected, energy costs increase, and product quality and yield deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical environment through catalyst addition. The catalyst system (acidic compound on support) changes the reaction parameters to enable selective depolymerization of mixed polymers at lower temperatures, thus resolving the contradiction between processing versatility and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a catalyst as an intermediary substance that mediates the depolymerization reaction. This catalyst enables the selective breakdown of different polymer types in mixed waste streams without requiring high energy input, thus allowing versatile processing while maintaining low energy costs
2Adaptability or versatility
If different types of polymeric waste material are collected together for chemical recycling, then the recycling process can handle mixed waste streams, but the heating process control is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The catalyst system changes the thermal and kinetic parameters of the depolymerization process, enabling controlled reactions of mixed polymers at standardized temperature ranges. This resolves the contradiction by making the process controllable despite the diversity of input materials
3Adaptability or versatility
If different types of polymeric waste material are collected together for chemical recycling, then the recycling process can handle mixed waste streams, but the quality and yield of the resulting products deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a catalyst system with specific active sites that selectively interact with different polymer types. The catalyst's localized acidic compounds on support surfaces enable selective depolymerization pathways for various polymers in the mixed stream, maintaining high product quality and yield while processing diverse materials
Solution Approach 2:
The catalyst modifies the chemical reaction parameters to favor selective depolymerization pathways that produce high-quality monomers and oligomers from mixed polymers. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both processing versatility and manufacturing precision through controlled chemical transformation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The catalyst achieves efficient depolymerization of polymeric waste, producing high yields of gaseous monomers and low olefinic and aromatic content in the liquid products, while being reusable and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a catalyst for the depolymerization of polymeric waste material, made from or containing, as an active component, an acidic compound deposited on a particulate non-porous support
Implementation Method 2
pyrolyzing the mixture, thereby generating gaseous fractions
Data Source
AI summary
A catalyst for the depolymerization of polymeric waste material made from or containing an acidic component deposited on a solid support with the help of a coating agent as well as a depolymerization process using the catalyst. A process for the depolymerization of polymeric waste material, comprising: (a) providing a feedstock of polymeric waste material; (b) mixing the feedstock with a depolymerization catalyst of, thereby forming a mixture; (c) pyrolyzing the mixture, thereby generating gaseous fractions; (d) collecting the gaseous fractions; and (e) separating the collected gaseous fraction, thereby obtaining a gaseous and a liquid depolymerization product.