INDUSTRY
enables it to make end products, not a feedstock like pyrolysis oil. The company has developed a three- stage process for recycling mixed plastics waste. First it uses thermal cracking which generates a wide range of hydrocarbons. Stage two is a hydro-refining process developed to remove impurities and form naphthenic and paraffinic hydrocarbons. The third distillation stage results in three product families, waxes, solvents and oils for industrial and consumer use which are sold to its customers. Clariter’s technology has been proven through
an operational pilot plant in Gliwice, Poland, and a demonstration plant in East London, South Africa. In 2021, it has announced collaborations with DSM and Mitsubishi. In addition, South African chemicals group AECI has made a €2.5m investment in Clariter and is exploring construction of full-scale plants in South Africa, Germany and USA. Recycling Technologies, in Swindon, England, has developed thermal cracking technology that it says can be installed at existing waste sites any- where. Its RT7000 machine produces pyrolysis oil branded Plaxx. A demonstration plant and testing facility has been operating at Swindon Borough Council’s recycling facility since 2017. The first commercial-scale unit will be installed at Binn Eco Park in Perth, Scotland, in collaboration with Binn Group and Zero Waste Scotland.
Polystyrene Chemical recycling of polystyrene is well-ad- vanced. This April, Recycling Technologies was selected by Ineos Styrolution as the technology provider for commercial scale recycling of PS back to styrene monomer. Prior to building the commer- cial scale recycling plant, a PS recycling pilot plant will be built in Swindon, UK. It uses the same basic technology as the RT7000 but the machine to recycle polystyrene will have a different name. Ineos Styrolution plans to build its full commer- cial scale recycling facility in Wingles, France, but has not given a date; capacity should be 15,000 tonnes/yr. Trinseo has said it plans to build a dedicated 15,000 tonnes/yr plant at its Tessenderlo, Belgium location, to come into operation in 2023. In May, Trinseo announced that it could supply
recycled polystyrene (rPS) for food contact applica- tions with the launch of the first yogurt pot integrat- ing rPS (again from Yoplait), now on shelves in France. Styron CO2RE CR55 contains 55% recycled content resulting from depolymerisation. In September, Trinseo and Indaver, a leader in sustainable waste management in Europe, signed an offtake agreement for recycled styrene monomer. Trinseo said it would buy a minimum of 50% of the
Chemical Recycling – Global Insight 2022
monomer produced at Indaver for a 10-year period, following start-up of the plant planned in 2023. Indaver will collect post-consumer polystyrene, such as yogurt pots and single-use packaging, and produce new styrene monomer through a propri- etary depolymerisation technology at its Antwerp, Belgium site, for repolymerisation at Trinseo’s Tessenderlo, Belgium site. At the end of last year, Total (now TotalEnergies),
sheet extrusion company Intraplás, and yoghurt producer Yoplait said they had successfully run a pilot test aimed at using certified chemically recycled polystyrene in yogurt pots. Total said that by converting mixed plastics waste in its steam cracker in Antwerp, it can produce certified chemically recycled polystyrene. Canadian technology company Pyrowave is involved in a major polystyrene chemical recycling project in a partnership with Michelin in Europe. Pyrowave manufactures modular equipment that uses microwave technology to depolymerise polystyrene and it licenses its use. Michelin will operate the equipment at a location yet to be decided. It will acquire several units from Pyrowave. Michelin will use the styrene monomer as a feedstock to make rubber for tyres. At the end of last year, the two companies said
they would work together to fast-track the industri- alisation of Pyrowave technology with a view to a certification and commercial roll-out in internation- al markets. The joint development agreement will ultimately account for an investment of more than €20m. Michelin and Pyrowave are working together to develop an industrial demonstrator, funded and operated by Michelin, by 2023.
PET
Eastman is building the world’s largest polyester chemical recycling facility at its site in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, employing its Polyester Renewal Technology (PRT) which uses methanolysis. Eastman expects the facility to be mechanically complete in late 2022. “Our goal is to recycle 250m pounds (around 113,000 tonnes) annually by 2025 and 500m pounds annually by 2050,” says a representative. “We pioneered the technology decades ago when we were formerly part of Eastman Kodak and used methanolysis to recycle polyester including Kodak films. We’ve retained that R&D knowledge and actually improved on it in the decades since.” Aquafil Engineering designs polyamide and polyester polymer plants based on its own patent- ed technology and production know-how. It also offers several recycling solutions under the brand
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