Non-catalytic and Catalytic Co-pyrolysis of Oil Palm Trunk and Polypropylene: Oil Composition and Formation Mechanism

Pyrolysis oil from oil palm biomass can potentially be used as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and the precursor for the synthesis of petrochemical products given its carbon-neutral property and low sulfur and nitrogen content. The addition of plastics and catalysts into the co-pyrolysis of oil palm biomass can improve the targeted hydrocarbon content, which is an important precursor for the synthesis of the petrochemical products (e.g., detergents, plastics, synthetic fibers, etc.) In this research work, the oil production from the pyrolysis of oil palm trunk (OPT), non-catalytic and catalytic co-pyrolysis of OPT and polypropylene (PP) were conducted from 500 to 700 C to evaluate the product yield and the changes in the oil composition.