Kinetic and Thermodynamic Study on the Pyrolysis of Low Density Polyethylene in the Production of Polyethylene Wax

Polyethylene wax was obtained from pyrolysis experiments on Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) wastes using a muffle furnace in inert condition. 60 – 80% of the initial mass of wax were obtained as heating was added at a rate of 10oC/min. Operating conditions for the reaction were 400 – 450oC over time of 30 – 50min and effects of these parameters were discussed. Using Friedman’s iso-conversional model, the kinetic parameters - activation energy, pre-exponential factor and frequency factor were 58.71kJ/mol, 13.726E+12/s and 914378.61 respectively. Also, spontaneity of LDPE pyrolysis occurs at high temperatures and these were validated from the calculated thermodynamic parameters.