Enhancing aromatic hydrocarbon production via catalytic co-pyrolysis of cabbage waste and low-density polyethylene using Fe-modified ZSM-5 catalyst

This study investigates the effectiveness of a two-stage process aimed at achieving sustainable aromatic production through the co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic, followed by catalytic reforming utilizing an Fe-modified ZSM-5 catalyst. To characterize the thermal decomposition behavior and monitor the progression of volatile compounds during the co-pyrolysis process, we employed thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in conjunction with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Additionally, we conducted a compositional analysis of the resultant bio-oil. This study demonstrates that the co-pyrolysis process, employing a catalyst-to-feedstock ratio of 1:1 with the 10Fe/ZSM-5 catalyst (10 wt.% Fe loading), significantly increases the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons to 67.38%. This yield is markedly higher compared to the aromatic hydrocarbon yield of 55.37% obtained from catalytic pyrolysis of biomass alone. Moreover, these findings highlight the potential of this integrated methodology as a promising pathway for transforming waste materials into value-added chemicals, thereby improving bio-oil quality through the enrichment of aromatic compounds.