Back to results
US 12,270,009 B2Granted
Plastic waste conversion to lubricant production
AssigneeUchicago Argonne, LLC
InventorsPingping Sun, Guiyan Zang, Theodore R. Krause, Amgad A. Elgowainy, Ryan Hackler, Massimiliano Delferro, Vincenzo Cappello
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for converting plastic feedstock into a lubricant on an industrial scale can include a reactor having a filter integrated therein to allow for separation and recovery of catalyst so it can be washed and reused in subsequent conversion processes. Such recycling of the catalyst can allow for an industrial scale conversion process.
Claims20
A process for conversion of a plastic feedstock to a liquid lubricant product, comprising:
- admixing the plastic feedstock with a hydrocarbon solvent;
- heating the plastic feedstock and hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of a hydrogenolysis/hydrocracking catalyst in a conversion reactor with a flow of H2 to a conversion temperature to form a slurry;
- holding the slurry at the conversion temperature for a retention time sufficient to convert substantially all of the plastic feedstock to a liquid lubricant;
- removing the liquid lubricant and hydrocarbon solvent from the conversion reactor and flowing the liquid lubricant and hydrocarbon solvent into a distillation column, wherein the liquid lubricant and hydrocarbon solvent is separated from the hydrogenolysis/hydrocracking catalyst before the liquid lubricant and hydrocarbon solvent is flowed into the distillation column;
- recovering the hydrogenolysis/hydrocracking catalyst separated from the liquid lubricant and transferring the recovered catalyst to a catalyst filter unit after the liquid lubricant is removed from the conversion reactor;
- washing the recovered catalysts in the catalyst filter using a washing solvent introduced into the catalyst filter, wherein any lubricant remaining on the recovered catalysts will be dissolved into the washing solvent during washing;
- returning the washed catalyst to the conversion reactor for reuse;
- flowing the washing solvent after catalyst washing to the distillation column;
- purifying the liquid lubricant, hydrocarbon solvent and washing solvent in the distillation column to recover hydrocarbon solvent and washing solvent;
- recovering the purified hydrocarbon solvent and washing solvent for reuse;
- and
- collecting the liquid lubricant product.
9 more elements
A process for conversion of a plastic feedstock to a liquid lubricant product, comprising:
- heating the plastic feedstock in the presence of a hydrogenolysis/hydrocracking catalyst in a conversion reactor with a flow of H2 to a conversion temperature to form a slurry;
- holding the slurry at the conversion temperature for a retention time sufficient to convert substantially all of the plastic feedstock to a liquid lubricant;
- removing the liquid lubricant from the conversion reactor and flowing the liquid lubricant into a distillation column, wherein the liquid lubricant is separated from the hydrogenolysis/hydrocracking catalyst before the liquid lubricant is flowed into the distillation column;
- recovering the hydrogenolysis/hydrocracking catalyst separated from the liquid lubricant and transferring the recovered catalyst to a catalyst filter unit after the liquid lubricant is removed from the conversion reactor;
- washing the recovered catalysts in the catalyst filter using a washing solvent introduced into the catalyst filter, wherein any lubricant remaining on the recovered catalysts will be dissolved into the washing solvent during washing;
- returning the washed catalyst to the conversion reactor for reuse;
- flowing the washing solvent after catalyst washing to the distillation column;
- purifying the liquid lubricant and washing solvent in the distillation column to recover solvent;
- recovering the purified washing solvent for reuse;
- and
- collecting the liquid lubricant product;
- wherein a liquid lubricant yield of the process is in a range of 60% to 90%.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.