Abstract

A systematic study on the use of noble metals (Pd, Pt, Au) supported on titanate nanotubes (NT-Ti) for selectively producing BTX and p-cymene from waste tire pyrolysis is provided here. All the materials were characterized for chemical, textural and structural properties using a range of analytical techniques. The M/NT-Ti (M: Pd, Pt, or Au) catalysts exhibit low nanoparticle sizes (1.8 2.2 nm), and a homogeneous pore size distribution. The catalysts demonstrated excellent activity for converting WT into BTX-enriched oil when tested in a micro-pyrolysis system coupled to chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The BTX production was enhanced by the presence of catalysts with a selectivity order as follows Pd > Pt AP;Au > support > non-catalyst. The Py-GC/MS suggest that the catalysts participate in the secondary reactions of dealkylation, dehydrogenation, isomerization, aromatization, and cyclization leading to a higher formation of BTX than the uncatalyzed reac-tion. Finally, a comprehensive reaction pathway describing the catalytic pyrolysis of WT over Pd/NT-Ti was proposed by studying the catalytic pyrolysis of individual polymers constituting the waste tires, and D,L-Limonene.