Method to convert waste plastics into value-added chemicals using microwave-assisted catalysis

A composition comprising made by a process comprising the steps:

• (a) providing a waste plastic to a reactor;
• (b) contacting the waste plastic with a catalyst to form a reaction mixture;
• and
• (c) applying microwave radiation to the reaction mixture;
• thereby forming a value-added product;
• wherein the catalyst comprises a zeolite, a solid acid catalyst, rare-earth metal oxide catalyst, or a combination thereof;
• and
• wherein the value-added product comprises benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethylene, propylene, butene, hydrogen, methane, or a combination thereof;
• wherein the rare-earth metal oxide catalyst comprises a catalyst metal comprising at least one metal selected from Groups 6-12 and a catalyst support selected from CeO2, La2O3, and combinations thereof;
• wherein the microwave irradiation induces bulk temperatures in the reaction mixture of from about 180° C. to about 400° C.;
• wherein the composition comprises hydrogen and at least one hydrocarbon selected from benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethylene, propylene, butene, and methane;
• and
• wherein the composition comprises from about 10 mol % to about 70 mol % hydrogen.