Purifying pyrolysis oil derived from mixed plastic waste

Clariant has launched a flexible and customisable portfolio of solutions for the emerging market of chemical plastics recycling. This new portfolio, which includes HDMax catalysts and Clarit adsorbents, is designed to purify pyrolysis oil that is derived from mixed plastic waste that is hard to recycle. The tailored solutions effectively remove a wide range of contaminants that continuously change in the feed, making them flexible and adaptable to any process configuration. In addition to these products, Clariant also offers operational assistance from startup to process optimisation, which lasts throughout the lifetime of the product.

The result of using these new products is a highly efficient removal of impurities, allowing producers to achieve pyrolysis oil that is compatible with ethylene plants. Pyrolysis oil is created from a chemical recycling process that breaks down polymers into basic building blocks to be used for new feedstock streams. This process helps reduce the environmental burden created by plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled, enabling a circular value chain for the production of base chemicals.

Jens Cuntze, President of Catalysts at Clariant, said, "As we support our customers' move towards a more circular economy with alternative feedstock sources, the development of more sustainable catalyst technologies is crucial.”