Upcycling Polyethylene Pyrolysis Oil Into Group IV Base Oil Lubricants

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Group IV base oil lubricants, polyalphaolefins (PAO), are critical for wide-temperature lubrication.
• Current PAO production relies on the petroleum industry, prompting research into sustainable alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of producing PAO lubricants from pyrolyzed waste plastic.
• To evaluate the lubricating properties, economic viability, and environmental impact of this novel production method.

Main Methods:

• Pyrolysis of waste plastic to produce oil, followed by distillation to isolate C10-C12 α-olefins.
• Oligomerization of α-olefins to synthesize PAO base oils.
• Characterization of PAO properties (viscosity index, pour point, metal and sulfur content) and economic/life cycle assessment.

Main Results:

• Synthesized PAO base oils from waste plastic showed comparable viscosity index and pour point to commercial synthetic lubricants.
• The PAO base oil had low metal (14-21 mg/kg) and sulfur (10-24 mg/kg) content, meeting industry standards.
• Economic analysis indicated profitability potential above 4.5% PAO yield from pyrolyzed plastic.
• Life cycle assessment revealed lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional petroleum-derived lubricants.

Conclusions:

• Waste plastic pyrolysis offers a viable route for producing high-performance PAO lubricants.
• This technology presents a sustainable and potentially profitable alternative to petroleum-based lubricant production.
• The process contributes to waste reduction and lower environmental impact in the lubricant industry.