{"id":{"repo_id":"calgary","oai_identifier":"oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/122716"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/calgary/oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/122716","repository":{"repo_id":"calgary","name":"University of Calgary","base_url":"https://ucalgary.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Thermochemical conversion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to value-added products using cobalt-based catalysts","abstract":"Emerging global plastic demand has escalated the generation of waste plastic, raising serious concerns for the environment and society. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) covers 13% of the total waste plastic. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical method of treating plastic thermally under an inert atmosphere to convert HDPE into valuable products, such as wax, oil, gas, and char. The current thesis explores the utilization of cobalt-based catalysts in the HDPE pyrolysis. The study investigates the effects of cobalt loadings in Co3O4/Al2O3 catalysts and reveals that an increase in cobalt loading resulted in gas production, while lowering the wax formation. The cobalt phase plays a crucial role in determining product selectivity and catalyst stability during the pyrolysis process. The Co3O4 catalyst favours gas production but is an unstable catalyst, whereas CoAl2O4 promotes wax and is a stable catalyst. The results highlight the potential of cobalt-based catalysts in converting HDPE into valuable products and contributing to plastic waste management.","abstract_html":"Emerging global plastic demand has escalated the generation of waste plastic, raising serious concerns for the environment and society. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) covers 13% of the total waste plastic. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical method of treating plastic thermally under an inert atmosphere to convert HDPE into valuable products, such as wax, oil, gas, and char. The current thesis explores the utilization of cobalt-based catalysts in the HDPE pyrolysis. The study investigates the effects of cobalt loadings in Co3O4/Al2O3 catalysts and reveals that an increase in cobalt loading resulted in gas production, while lowering the wax formation. The cobalt phase plays a crucial role in determining product selectivity and catalyst stability during the pyrolysis process. The Co3O4 catalyst favours gas production but is an unstable catalyst, whereas CoAl2O4 promotes wax and is a stable catalyst. The results highlight the potential of cobalt-based catalysts in converting HDPE into valuable products and contributing to plastic waste management.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kalia, Radhika"],"institution":"Schulich School of Engineering","degree_name":"Master of Science (MSc)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Engineering – Chemical &amp; Petroleum","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Hill, Josephine Mary"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Zhong, Na (Joanna)","Husein, Maen"],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-09-09","date_published":"2025-09-09","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:30:27Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":["University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. 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Pyrolysis is a thermochemical method of treating plastic thermally under an inert atmosphere to convert HDPE into valuable products, such as wax, oil, gas, and char. The current thesis explores the utilization of cobalt-based catalysts in the HDPE pyrolysis. The study investigates the effects of cobalt loadings in Co3O4/Al2O3 catalysts and reveals that an increase in cobalt loading resulted in gas production, while lowering the wax formation. The cobalt phase plays a crucial role in determining product selectivity and catalyst stability during the pyrolysis process. The Co3O4 catalyst favours gas production but is an unstable catalyst, whereas CoAl2O4 promotes wax and is a stable catalyst. The results highlight the potential of cobalt-based catalysts in converting HDPE into valuable products and contributing to plastic waste management."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Thermochemical conversion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to value-added products using cobalt-based catalysts"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Hill, Josephine Mary"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Zhong, Na (Joanna)","Husein, Maen"],"dc:creator":["Kalia, Radhika"],"dc:date":["2025-11"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-09-16T16:53:59Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-09-16T16:53:59Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-09-09"],"dc:description.abstract":["Emerging global plastic demand has escalated the generation of waste plastic, raising serious concerns for the environment and society. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) covers 13% of the total waste plastic. 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