Kinetic and Thermodynamic Study on the Pyrolysis of Low Density Polyethylene in the Production of Polyethylene Wax
Chinenye Faith Okey-Onyesolu *
Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Chukwunonso Chukwuzuloke Okoye
Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Marcel Ikenna Ejimofor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Ikenna Chukwudi Nwokedi
Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Polyethylene wax was obtained from pyrolysis experiments on Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) wastes using a muffle furnace in inert condition. 60 – 80% of the initial mass of wax were obtained as heating was added at a rate of 10oC/min. Operating conditions for the reaction were 400 – 450oC over time of 30 – 50min and effects of these parameters were discussed. Using Friedman’s iso-conversional model, the kinetic parameters - activation energy, pre-exponential factor and frequency factor were 58.71kJ/mol, 13.726E+12/s and 914378.61 respectively. Also, spontaneity of LDPE pyrolysis occurs at high temperatures and these were validated from the calculated thermodynamic parameters.
Keywords: Low density polyethylene, pyrolysis, wax, thermodynamics studies