Production of Motor Gasoline Components from Plastic Waste by Pyrolysis Followed by Hydrosaturation of Fuel Fractions

In the context of a constantly deteriorating environmental situation, in particular due to the uncontrolled accumulation of plastic waste, the search for effective ways to recycle plastic is an urgent task. Pyrolysis of plastic waste followed by the hydrosaturation of liquid products may become a promising method for obtaining components of motor gasoline. The aim of this study is to obtain motor gasoline components from plastic waste through pyrolysis, followed by hydrogenation of the fuel fractions for their use in the production of commercial fuels. The scientific novelty of this study consists of establishing the influence of hydrosaturation process parameters on an Al-Co-Mo hydrotreating catalyst (temperature and feedstock flow rate) on the transformation of hydrocarbons present in the gasoline fraction separated from the liquid pyrolysis products of polypropylene waste. The most preferred conditions for obtaining feedstock for subsequent hydrosaturation of polypropylene waste turned out to be the pyrolysis process carried out at a temperature of 450 °C and atmospheric pressure. Based on calculations in the Compounding software, promising blending components were identified. Based on the obtained results, two samples were identified as having the greatest potential for blending commercial gasolines in terms of hydrocarbon composition and performance characteristics. The sample obtained at the hydrosaturation process parameters of 350 °C and a feedstock flow rate of 0.51 mL/min is the most preferable in terms of its composition, since it demonstrates a minimal content of olefins (18.7% vol.) and benzene (0.87% vol.) but has a relatively low octane number (RON 58.7). The sample obtained at the hydrosaturation process parameters of 300 °C and a feedstock flow rate of 0.85 mL/min has relatively higher octane characteristics (RON 72.9) and can be used as a high-octane component but requires blending with components that compensate for the increased olefin content. Also, it is shown in this work that hydrosaturation of the gasoline fraction separated from the liquid pyrolysis products of polypropylene waste enables the production of motor gasoline components whose blending rate in commercial gasolines recipes can reach up to 35% by volume.