Selective Production of Terephthalonitrile and Benzonitrile via Pyrolysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) with Ammonia over Ca(OH)2/Al2O3 Catalysts

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Abstract
A series of Ca(OH)2/Al2O3 catalysts were synthesized for selectively producing N-containing chemicals from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) via catalytic fast pyrolysis with ammonia (CFP-A) process. During the CFP-A process, the carboxyl group in PET plastic was efficiently utilized for the selective production of terephthalonitrile and benzonitrile by controlling the catalysts and pyrolysis parameters (e.g. temperature, residence time, ammonia content). The best conditions were selected as 2% Ca(OH)2/γ-Al2O3 (0.8 g), 500 °C under pure ammonia with 58.3 C% terephthalonitrile yield and 92.3% selectivity in nitriles. In addition, 4% Ca(OH)2/ Al2O3 was suitable for producing benzonitrile. With catalyst dosage of 1.2 g, residence time of 1.87 s, pyrolysis temperature of 650 °C and pure ammonia (160 mL/min carrier gas flow rate), the yield and selectivity of benzonitrile were 30.4 C% and 82.6%, respectively. The catalysts deactivated slightly after 4 cycles.

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