Published on: 2026-05-15
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
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Research team of the Department of Physical ChemistryFaculty of Natural Sciences of Novosibirsk State Universityand the G.K. Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences continues large-scale work on the creation of technology for processing pyrolysis oil from mixed plastic waste into high-quality kerosene and diesel fractions. The results of this work were presented at the International Youth Scientific Conference “Oil and Gas – 2026” within the framework of the International Forum “Oil and Gas – 2026”, which was held from April 21 to 24 in Moscow. The report was delivered by a junior researcher and graduate student from Novosibirsk State University.Vsevolod Vdovichenko. As a result of the conference, he became a first-degree laureate.
The technology being developed consists of several stages. Initially, a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene wastes is subjected to pyrolysis at a temperature of about 600 °C. Pyrolysis oil is obtained at the outlet — a dark liquid with a sharp odor, containing up to 64% unsaturated hydrocarbons and a large amount of normal paraffins. Such oil is unsuitable for use as fuel: olefins can cause deposits to form in the engine, and n-paraffins solidify when the temperature is lowered.Pyrolysis oil fraction can be converted into quality fuel through catalytic hydroisodeparaffinization—a process that simultaneously hydrogenates unsaturated compounds and isomerizes linear paraffins into branched ones, reducing the cloud point temperature.
Scientists from NGU and IK SO RAN proposed using bifunctional catalysts based on zeolite ZSM-23 and aluminum oxide (γ-Al₂O₃) with the addition of nickel for this purpose. The main advantage of this solution is the refusal to use noble metals (platinum), which significantly reduces the cost of the catalyst.
—The fraction of pyrolysis oil with a boiling temperature of 135–360 °C is quite an interesting raw material. If you simply hydrogenate it, you will get a product with a high freezing temperature. Our task was to select a catalyst that simultaneously hydrogenates olefins and isomerizes paraffins. Only then does the cloud point temperature fall below -20 °C, and the fuel becomes suitable for use in a cold climate., — saidVsevolod Vdovichenko.
Catalysts with nickel content from 2.5 to 10% were tested in a high-pressure flow reactor. The feedstock – a fraction of pyrolysis oil – is supplied from the tank by a high-pressure liquid pump to a mixer, where it is mixed with hydrogen at a pressure of 40 bar. Then the mixture enters the reactor with the catalyst. The temperature in the reactor is maintained in the range of 300-360 °C, the volumetric feed rate of the feedstock is 1 h⁻¹, the “hydrogen-feedstock” ratio is 1000 ml (NTP)/ml. Products from the reactor enter a separator where gas and liquid are separated.The liquid product accumulates in the receiver, after which it is analyzed — its fractional, group, and component composition is studied, and the haze temperature is measured.
—It has been shown that for effective operation, at least 7.5% nickel is necessary. If there is less — activity is insufficient, and if there is more — over-processing of the metal occurs without a real gain in product quality. For industry, this is an important economic aspect of the process technology., — explains the junior research fellow of the Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Candidate of Chemical SciencesEkaterina Vorobyova.
At a temperature of 320–340 °C, the yield of target fractions (kerosene + diesel) remained high — 93–95%, gas formation was minimal. The cloud point of the resulting products was below −20 °C, the heat of combustion was 43.9 MJ/kg (as for commercial fuel), and the content of aromatic hydrocarbons did not exceed 1%.
—When we first started working with pyrolysis oil, the product freezing temperature was around zero — this was completely unsuitable. Now we consistently receive fuel with a cloud point temperature below minus 20, and even below minus 40 °C. Vsevolod excellently presented this overall result on the forum, and the victory is a well-deserved recognition of the work of the entire team., — comments the head of the template synthesis group of the IK SO RAN, acting head of the Department of Physical Chemistry of FEN NGU, candidate of chemical sciences Ekaterina Paromchuk.
Pyrolysis oil for research was provided by the company LLC “Onium Plus” (Yaroslavl). Parallel to laboratory experiments at NGU, the company is conducting resource tests on a pilot plant.
—It is critically important for us that the catalyst does not contain noble metals. Platinum is expensive and scarce. Nickel is affordable, and our colleagues have demonstrated that with proper organization of the process, it is in no way inferior in efficiency when processing high-olefin feedstock. High yield of liquid products, low cloud point temperature, and controllable combustion heat are parameters with which it is already possible to proceed to pilot-industrial testing. Congratulations to Vsevolod and the entire department staff on the victory., — said a representative of the company LLC “Onium Plus”Alexander Klimov.
Congratulations to Vsevolod Vdovichenko and the entire staff of the Department of Physical Chemistry of FEF NGU and the Catalysis Institute SO RAS on receiving a well-deserved award at the International Forum “Oil and Gas”!
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