Enhanced Energy Potential Through Catalytic Co‐Pyrolysis of Peanut Shell and Polyethylene: A Thermochemical Study

Abstract Biomass co‐pyrolysis with hydrogen rich plastics has proven to be an effective strategy for improving the yield and quality of the liquid products obtained. This process not only increases the bio‐oil fraction but also promotes the formation of compounds with higher energy content and lower oxygenation levels, thanks to the hydrogen‐donating effect of the plastics. To improve the reactor design and enhance the value of peanut shells (B) combined with plastic waste (P), the co‐pyrolysis behavior was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The individual devolatilization behavior of lignocellulosic and plastic residues obtained separately was compared with the behavior of various proportions of P/B blends. At high temperatures, a positive synergistic interaction between B and P was observed based on the difference in weight loss. The first‐order reaction model fits well for the co‐pyrolysis of biomass with plastics, indicating that the process can be described using a simple rate law. Results indicated that the second stage played a key role in activation energy. The use of an H‐ZSM‐11 catalyst resulted in a 20% decrease in activation energy compared to the thermal process, supporting that catalytic co‐pyrolysis is an efficient process that can reduce reaction energy.