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Catalytic Hydrothermal Degradation of Carbon Reinforced Plastic Wastes for Carbon Fibre and Chemical Feedstock Recovery

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Abstract

Recovery of carbon fibre and chemical feedstock via catalytic hydrothermal degradation of waste carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) sample was investigated in a stainless steel batch reactor between 400 and 420 °C and pressures of 20 and 25 MPa, respectively. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide were used as catalysts/additives. Using supercritical water alone, a maximum of 54.5 wt% of resin was removed from the CFRP at 420 °C, but with high recovery of phenol in the liquid residual. The presence of NaOH or KOH alone in water led to up to 81 wt% resin removal, even at short reaction times. Extracts from the liquid residual contained phenol and aniline as the major components; thus representing a potential for monomer recovery. For instance, the use of KOH alone gave phenol yield of 377 mg/(g resin) and aniline yield of 112 mg/(g resin). In addition, the presence of the alkalis led to the recovery of carbon fibres with very good mechanical properties.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Turkish Government for the provision of a PhD Scholarships for E. Yildirir.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Research Institute, School of Process Environmental and Materials Engineering, The University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Jude A. Onwudili, Eyup Yildirir & Paul T. Williams

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  1. Jude A. Onwudili
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  2. Eyup Yildirir
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  3. Paul T. Williams
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Correspondence to Jude A. Onwudili.

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Onwudili, J.A., Yildirir, E. & Williams, P.T. Catalytic Hydrothermal Degradation of Carbon Reinforced Plastic Wastes for Carbon Fibre and Chemical Feedstock Recovery. Waste Biomass Valor 4, 87–93 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-013-9204-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-013-9204-4

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