Green synthesis of ZSM-5 using silica fume and catalytic co-cracking of lignin and plastics for production of monocyclic aromatics

• A green, template-free synthesis of hierarchical ZSM-5 from silica fume yields a cost-effective and environmentally friendly catalyst. • Catalytic co-cracking of lignin and plastics over the synthesized ZSM-5 significantly enhances BTEX selectivity, with synergistic effects at specific feed ratios. • The highest BTEX selectivity reached 88.5%, outperforming individual cracking of LDPE and AL by 3.7% and 54.2%, respectively. • The synthesized ZSM-5 shows superior catalytic performance compared to commercial ZSM-5, highlighting its potential for industrial application.