Kinetic modeling for the catalytic cracking of tires pyrolysis oil

Abstract The parameters of a 6-lump kinetic model for the catalytic cracking of tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) in conditions of the industrial fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit have been computed. The experiments have been carried out in a riser simulator reactor, on a commercial equilibrium catalyst at the following conditions: 500–560 °C; catalyst/oil ratio (C/O), 3–7 gcat gTPO-1; and reaction time, 1–10 s. The most significant catalytic steps for conversion levels below 80% are those in which the heavy cycle oil (HCO) lump is involved, either cracked to form light cycle oil (LCO), naphtha, liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), dry gas or condensed to coke. For higher levels of conversion, LCO and naphtha lump over-crack causing exponential increases in the yields of LPG, dry gas and coke. It should be highlighted the high yield of naphtha obtained (48 wt%) for a conversion of 90% at 530 °C. It is also remarkable the low deactivation level by coke deposition, since the coke formed on the acid sites of the catalyst is not much condensed. The results are of great interest for the design or reactors ad hoc for the catalytic cracking of TPO in conditions similar to those of industrial FCC unit, as well as for its feeding to a commercial unit within the strategy involved in the Waste Refinery.