Depolymerization of Polypropylene in an Induction-Coupled Plasma (ICP) Reactor
Abstract
An induction-coupled plasma reactor was used to thermally decompose polypropylene into propylene and other useful chemicals. From a series of statistically designed experiments, it was found that plasma power input, sheath gas flow rate, central gas flow rate, powder feed rate, quench gas flow rate, and interaction of sheath gas flow rate with power and feed rate were the key parameters affecting the yield of monomer in the product gas stream. On average, 78 wt % of the polymer was converted into gas at a power level of 20 kVA. The product gas stream, on an argon-free basis, contained 94% propylene, with the balance being methane, ethylene, and some C 4 's. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of the carbon residue indicated the formation of some novel carbon structures, including carbon nanotubes.
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Inductively coupled plasma has demonstrated the ability to transform polypropylene into a gas mixture containing 94% propylene.
“Inductively coupled plasma has demonstrated the ability to transform polypropylene into a gas mixture containing 94% propylene [70].”
From Transforming Plastic Waste into Value: A Review of Management Strategies and Innovative Applications in Sustainable Construction (2025) · cites this paper as [70]
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Depolymerization of Polyethylene Using Induction-Coupled Plasma Technology
Guddeti, R. R., Knight, R., & Grossmann, E. D. (2000) · Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing · doi:10.1023/a:1006969710410 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Self-citationSynthesis of Ozone at Atmospheric Pressure by a Quenched Induction-Coupled Plasma Torch
Stratton, B. C., Knight, R., MIKKELSEN, D. R., et al. (1999) · Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing · doi:10.1023/a:1021639608291 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
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Vollmer, I., Jenks, M. J. F., Roelands, M. C. P., White, R. J., van Harmelen, T., de Wild, P., van der Laan, G. P., Meirer, F., Keurentjes, J. T. F., & Weckhuysen, B. M. (2020) · Angewandte Chemie International Edition · doi:10.1002/anie.201915651 · Cited by 1,905 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Guddeti, R. R., Knight, R., & Grossmann, E. D.
- Affiliations
- Drexel University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Knight, Richard
- Venue
- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2000-03-21
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1171-1176
- ISSN
- 0888-5885 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5045
- OpenAlex
- W2037988038
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 1.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Vacuum and Plasma Arcs
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Plasma Applications and Diagnostics
- Keywords
- plasma pyrolysis, propylene recovery, monomer yield, process parameter optimization, carbon nanotubes, unburned carbon
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