Schulich School of Engineering
Thermochemical conversion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to value-added products using cobalt-based catalysts
Abstract
dc:description.abstractEmerging 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.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Engineering – Chemical & Petroleum
- Grantor dc:publisher.institution
- Schulich School of Engineering
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2025
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Kalia, Radhika
- Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
-
- Hill, Josephine Mary
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Zhong, Na (Joanna)
- Husein, Maen
Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc: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. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/122716