Konversi Pelepah Sawit dan Plastik HDPE menjadi Bio-Oil melalui Proses Co-Pirolisis Menggunakan Katalis Zeolit Mordenit Diimpregnasi Logam Co dan Fe

Abstract

Bio-oil derived from the thermal decomposition of waste biomass from oil palm fronds has the potential to be utilized as an alternative energy raw material source. However, its physical and chemical properties have weaknesses such as high oxygen to carbon ratio, low selectivity of hydrocarbon components, and poor stability. Therefore, steps are needed to enhance the quality of bio-oil to make it more compatible for storage and further processing into liquid fuel. The combination with plastic waste containing a high hydrogen to carbon ratio and a low oxygen to carbon ratio is one way to improve the quality of bio-oil. This approach aims to produce a high yield of bio-oil with more alkane and alkene components. The main objective of this research is to enhance the production of bio-oil with a stable hydrocarbon component through catalytic co-pyrolysis process at a temperature of 500°C, with N2 gas flow rate of approximately 5 mL/sec for 1 hour, using oil palm frond waste and HDPE plastic waste as feedstocks, employing zeolite mordenite catalyst impregnated with Fe and Co metal oxides in a fixed-bed reactor system. The characteristics of the catalysts obtained indicate that the metal impregnation process affects the configuration of the mordenite zeolite. The success of incorporating metals into the zeolite is validated by data from TEM and SEM-EDX analyses. The catalyst pores show the presence of mesopores in each catalyst. CoO/MOR and Fe2O3/MOR catalysts resulted in an increase in bio-oil yield percentage by 49% and 55.75%, respectively. GC-MS testing results indicate that the MOR catalyst produces a significant amount of aromatic hydrocarbons (10,08%). The CoO/MOR catalyst is effective in generating aliphatic hydrocarbons in the diesel fraction (29,95%). The Fe2O3/MOR catalyst excels in the production of cycloalkane aliphatic hydrocarbons (8%) and aliphatic hydrocarbons in the gasoline fraction (36,81%). Additionally, the physical and chemical properties of the bio-oil derived from both catalysts exhibit advantages, characterized by the lowest oxygen content and highest heating value (HHV) among comparable co pyrolysis methodologies.