Production of aromatic amines via catalytic co-pyrolysis of lignin and phenol-formaldehyde resins with ammonia over commercial HZSM-5 zeolites.

Aromatic amines could be produced from organic wastes via catalytic pyrolysis with ammonia that served not only as a carrier gas but also as a reactant. Aromatic amines of 14.2 C% with selectivity of 57.6% were obtained from phenol-formaldehyde resins via pyrolysis over commercial HZSM-5-3 zeolite (Si/Al ratio of 80) catalyst at 650 °C. Significant synergetic effects have been observed when lignin was added, which improved aromatic amines yield by 32.2% to 11.8 C% at the mixing weight ratio of lignin to PF resins of 1:1. HZSM-5-3 was slightly deactivated after 3 cycles with acid sites loss. Catalytic co-pyrolysis of plastics and biomass wastes is a fast and effective method to produce aromatic amines.