HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION OF FRESH NATURAL RUBBER USING PYROLYSIS PROCESS

• Main Author: Dewi, Laksmi
• Format: Dissertations
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/85354
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The successful attainment of bio-hydrocarbon production via natural rubber latex pyrolysis utilizing laboratory-scale semi-batch macro-thermogravimetry heralds a significant advancement in renewable chemical synthesis. Diverging from the prevalent utilization of lignocellulosic biomass, the exploration of natural rubber latex as a pyrolysis precursor introduces novel avenues for bio-hydrocarbon generation. Characterized by a preponderance of isoprene polymer, natural rubber latex offers distinct outcomes compared to conventional biomass sources, owing to its absence of fixed carbon and a notable concentration of volatile matter, nearing 100%. Consequently, it emerges as a promising substrate for the diversification of renewable chemical feedstocks, particularly for the production of bio-hydrocarbon compounds. This research endeavor is dedicated to the characterization and modeling of natural rubber latex pyrolysis, with the primary objective of elucidating its potential for renewable hydrocarbon chemical synthesis. Systematic investigation into natural rubber latex pyrolysis within semi-batch macro-thermogravimetric apparatus was conducted, involving variations in operating temperature (300–600°C), raw material particle size (0.5x0.5 cm and 5x5 cm), and retention time (0–60 minutes). The experimental outcomes underscore the considerable potential of natural rubber latex pyrolysis to yield renewable bio-hydrocarbons, encompassing both gas and liquid phases. Liquid products, comprising primarily of olefins, mono-aromatic hydrocarbons (MAH), and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), can attain a weight percentage as high as 84.54%, with gas products reaching 14.47%. The physical sifates of liquid products, including viscosity, density, and Gross Caloric Value (GCV), closely resemble those of petroleum-derived diesel oil. Identification of key components within the liquid phase reveals the presence of limonene, toluene, xylene, and various alkylbenzenas, underscoring the potential utility of natural rubber latex-derived bio-oils in chemical synthesis. Furthermore, kinetic modeling based on vaporized material was successfully employed to predict the composition and yield of liquid and gas products arising from natural rubber latex pyrolysis. This modeling approach, integrating volatile state equations, modified Arrhenius equations, and the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) iso-conversional kinetic model, facilitated the determination of kinetic parameters. Experimental validation of the proposed methodology, conducted under diverse temperature and pressure conditions, yielded highly accurate predictions, with error values below 0.5%. The elucidation of reaction mechanisms and the development of predictive mathematical models represent pivotal contributions towards optimizing the thermal depolymerization of natural rubber latex, ultimately enhancing the quality and quantity of derived products. Additionally, the intervention of metal oxides in natural rubber latex pyrolysis was investigated to evaluate their catalytic effects on the depolymerization process. Employing commercial catalysts such as SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, ZnO, CaO, SiO2/Al2O3, Zeolite-Y, and ZSM-5, this study elucidated the influence of catalyst addition on bio-oil and pyrolytic gas yields, as well as the compositional diversity of bio-oil compounds. The incorporation of metal oxides as catalysts was found to significantly impact the yield and composition of bio-oil, which harbors potential as a renewable chemical feedstock owing to its rich assortment of mono-aromatic and benzena derivatives such as ethylbenzena, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzena, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzena.