Production of Non-Conventional Fuels by Catalytic Cracking of Scrap Tires Pyrolysis Oil

Different commercial equilibrium fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts have been tested in the upgrading of scrap tires pyrolysis oil (STPO) with the aim of obtaining automotive-like fuels. The runs have been performed in a CREC riser simulator reactor under FCC conditions: 470-560 degrees C; catalyst to oil mass ratio (C/O), 5 g(cat) g(STPO)(-1); contact time, 6 s. The performance of the different catalysts, i.e., the extent of cracking reactions and product distribution, has been quantified by means of chromatographic techniques. Quantified product fractions have been the following: dry gas (C-1-C-2), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, C-3-C-4), naphtha (C-5-C-12), light cycle oil (LCO, C-13-C-20), and heavy cycle oil (HCO, C20+). Obtained results expose the capacity of the FCC unit for the valorization of STPO, showing the relevance of the properties of the catalyst, i.e., porous structure and acidity, in obtained conversion and product yields.