Optimization of low-temperature catalytic cracking of polyolefin waste in open-batch reactors using zeolite beta with controlled intrinsic properties

Abstract Environmental problems are worsening due to the complexity in managing plastic waste. Chemical recycling emerges as a pivotal technology that can suppress additional carbon introduction into the carbon cycle and provide petroleum alternatives for current petrochemical processes, leading to value-added products. The utilization of zeolites can significantly reduce energy consumption by lowering the operation temperature required for pyrolysis. Here, we demonstrate low-temperature catalytic cracking of polyethylene (PE) utilizing an open-batch reactor configuration and *BEA-type zeolite catalysts, maximizing the liquid product selectivity. With the optimized open-batch setup and zeolite properties, high PE conversion (~ 80%) and liquid selectivity (~ 70%) were achieved at a low temperature of 330°C, effectively reducing the irreversible coke formation. We systematically explored t…