(703e) Conversion of Waste Solids to Monomers and Intermediates

In this study a process design and assessment for a waste plastics recycling plant to produce monomers and refinery-like liquids for use as intermediate chemicals is presented. The catalyst is comprised of a promoted and modified ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst spray dried into an attrition resistant, fluidizable, spherical shape to be used in a circulating fluid bed reactor. A feed stock of mixed, co-mingled solid waste composed of plastics, polyols, polyethers, polyurethanes, paper, rubber, tires, auto shredder residue, composites, agricultural waste, MRF bales (including rejected and residuals) and the like is added to a fluidized bed reactor in a melted state and the fluidized catalyst bed is operated in the range of 550 – 600^o C at 1.5 – 3 atm, typically. The catalyst regeneration will take place at 600 – 750^o C. The mass balances are in the range of 100 + 10% and the analytical measurements of the reaction products are conducted by a duel function gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector and thermal conductivity detector. The light products wt% yields, CO, CO₂, H₂, C₁-C₃, sum to below 20 wt% yield and the wt% liquids falls above 80%.