Panda, A.K.Singh, R.K.2026-02-052014International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2014, 13, 1, pp. 104-11414789876https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEWM.2014.058803https://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/26657Waste low-density polyethylene samples were subjected to thermo-catalytic degradation using kaolin as catalyst in a batch reactor at temperature range of 400 to 500°C and atmospheric pressure. The quality and yield of the condensable product has been studied as a function of temperature and amount of catalyst. Both in thermal and catalytic degradation, the condensable fraction was less viscous liquid oil at low temperatures (up to 450°C), whereas with increase of temperature (from 475°C) the fraction became viscous and waxy. The recovery of condensable fraction increased from 30.8 wt.% at 400°C to 71.45% at 450°C and further increased to a maximum of 86.65wt.% at 500°C in absence of catalyst. The catalyst increased the yield of the condensable product and decreased the reaction time. The highest yield of liquid fraction at 450°C was 79.5 wt.% with 1:2 catalyst to plastics ratio. The composition of the oil obtained at optimum reaction condition was characterised by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (and found consisting of paraffins and olefins with mainly C10-C16 components. Fuel properties of the oil obtained by different standard methods are similar to petrochemical fuels. © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.Atmospheric pressureBatch reactorsCatalystsFuelsGas chromatographyKaolinLiquidsLow density polyethylenesMass spectrometryPetrochemicalsPolyethylenesCatalytic degradationFuel propertiesGas chromatography-mass spectroscopiesLiquid fractionLow temperaturesOptimum reaction conditionsTemperature rangeThermal and catalytic degradationAtmospheric temperature