The application of Py-GC/MS for the catalytic upgrading of oil separated from summer food waste leachate

The catalytic cracking of oil fractions separated from summer food waste leachate was investigated over BEA zeolite and Al-SBA-15 catalysts. In this study, a mixture of food waste oil fractions and catalyst was directly introduced to pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), with the resulting vapor phase products being simultaneously analyzed. Various acid compounds, including oleic acid, produced by the non-catalytic pyrolysis of food waste leachate were reformed into valuable compounds, such as oxygenates, hydrocarbons, and aromatics. The BEA zeolite catalyst showed higher selectivity for hydrocarbon compounds, especially aromatics, within the gasoline range due to its superior cracking ability originating from its highly acidic sites. Conversely, the cracking performance of the Al-SBA-15 catalyst, possessing mild acidic sites, was lower than that of the BEA zeolite. Increasing the amount of Al-SBA-15 catalyst enhanced the cracking activity and resulted in higher selectivity for hydrocarbons.