Co-liquefaction of cotton gin trash and low-density polyethylene wastes via supercritical ethanolysis for hydrocarbon-rich oil

• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2023.117216
• Publication Date: 2023-05-31T09:59:19Z
• Authors: Vishal Bellie Sub...; Luqman Atanda; William O.S. Doherty; Darryn Rackemann; Lalehvash Moghaddam
• Keywords: Low-density polyethylene; Heat of combustion

Bio-oil produced from lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) offers significant advantages as a sustainable energy source for future generations. However, its low-quality demands better approaches to solve problems such low calorific value, stability, and high oxygen content. This study investigates the feasibility of producing hydrocarbon-rich oil through supercritical ethanolysis (scEtOH) co-liquefaction cotton gin trash (CGT) plastic waste. The scEtOH studies were carried out using various mixing ratios low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at temperature range (240–340 °C), reaction time (0–3 h) without catalysts. Positive effects on yield higher hydrocarbon content observed 320 °C 2 h with CGT/LDPE ratio 1:2 under optimised conditions. Further feedstock (2:1, 1:1, 1:2) showed positive synergistic in increased 3.7 wt% 17.2 when LDPE proportion was 33.33% 66.66%. Maximum heating values (HHV) 31.5 MJ/kg 42.5 solid products obtained 1:2. Additionally, CGT improved carbon 50.9 85.4 which can be used resource. Our results demonstrate that co-processing LCB wastes is approach improve fuel quality, facilitate recycling, compensate decreased availability due seasonal variations.