Conversion of polyethylene terephthalate plastic waste and phenol steam reforming to hydrogen and valuable liquid fuel: Synthesis effect of Ni–Co/ZrO2 nanostructured catalysts

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2020-02, Vol.45 (11), p.6302-6317
• Main Authors: Nabgan, Walid, Nabgan, Bahador, Tuan Abdullah, Tuan Amran, Ngadi, Norzita, Jalil, Aishah Abdul, Hassan, Nurul Sahida, Izan, Siti Maryam, Luing, Wong Syie, Abdullah, Suhail Najm, Majeed, Faraj Saeid Adrees
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization; Ni–Co/ZrO2 nanostructured; Phenol; Polyethylene terephthalate; Synthesis
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.12.103

Ni–Co/ZrO2 (NCZ) nano-structure catalysts prepared by the hydrothermal method (NCZ-hyd) and conventional impregnation (NCZ-imp) method. The comparative catalytic activity and coke resistance for each prepared catalyst were examined in steam reforming of phenol and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste. The Physico-chemical catalysts properties were characterized by N2-adsorption, XRD, FTIR, TEM, SEM, EDX, H2-TPR, CO2-TPD, and TGA. The effects of preparation methods of NCZ nano-structure catalyst on the catalytic performances in PET-phenol steam reforming were investigated. The NCZ-hyd nanostructure catalyst exposed more outstanding catalytic activity and more excellent coke resistance in comparison with the NCZ-imp. The experimental findings exhibited that catalyst synthesized by hydrothermal method were uniform with the size of 8.8 nm, while NCZ particles prepared by conventional impregnation method were un-uniform, unshaped, and agglomerated, and the size distribution of its particles was from 25 to 50 nm. PET-Phenol conversion and hydrogen yield of 56.5% and 52.5% for the NCZ-imp while 67.6% and 64.8% for the NCZ-hyd catalyst were achieved, respectively. The kinetic study of steam reforming of PET-phenol was also implemented. The activation energy was found to be 69.03 J/mol for NCZ-imp while 107.3 J/mol for the NCZ-hyd nanostructured catalysts. The PET-phenol steam reforming produced valuable liquid products such as benzene, 2-methyl phenol, and dibenzofuran which is one of the crucial keys to solving the waste plastic recycling problem. [Display omitted] •Synthesis and characterization of Ni–Co/ZrO2 nanostructure catalyst was studied.•Catalytic activity and coke resistance are examined in steam reforming of PET-phenol.•PET was efficiently converted to hydrogen using Ni–Co/ZrO2 catalyst.•The catalyst which prepared by hydrothermal method was uniform and not agglomerated.•Catalytic reforming of PET produced numerous branched-chains aliphatics.