Reduction of carbon dioxide in hydrothermal cracking of polymer wastes

An innovative technology that reduces CO₂ into organic compounds such as formic acid during the hydrothermal cracking of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) was discussed. The reduction process was accompanied by the conversion of EPDM into fuel oils. The analytical results of gas samples with and without CO₂ showed that the concentrations of hydrocarbons with 1-6 carbon atoms were significantly higher in the presence of CO₂ than those in the absence of CO₂, particularly for methane at 450° C. The highest efficiency for CO₂ reduction was about 20%, which occurred at 450° C with a reaction time of 2 h. The amount of hydrocarbons, the alkanes from the hydrothermal cracking of EPDM, with 2-6 carbon atoms also increased in the presence of CO₂. Hydrogen and methane were found to be the major components of the gas samples. The formation of formic acid was also clearly observed.