Evonik Offers Materials to Treat Pyrolysis Oil More Efficiently

Catalysts and adsorbents are intended to optimize chemical recycling and promote a functioning circular economy.


According to the Essen-based chemical company Evonik, it is developing solutions that could advance the chemical recycling of plastics. Special catalysts and adsorbents are intended to improve the quality of pyrolysis oil produced through chemical recycling processes. The company has been working on the development of technologies for purifying pyrolysis oil for some time now, drawing on its long-standing expertise in petrochemicals and the processing of raw materials, according to a press release. Pyrolysis oil from chemical recycling contains impurities such as chlorine, nitrogen, or silicon, which could impair the efficiency and process reliability of steam crackers. To meet the strict quality standards set by cracker operators for the raw materials used, Evonik, as a system partner for the industry, offers solutions for a range of requirements—from small pyrolysis plants to large petrochemical complexes, says Hendrik Rasch, who heads the Circular Packaging and Plastics Recycling division within the company’s Next Markets Program. The modular systems enable seamless integration into existing plants, according to Rasch.
 
According to the company, the Purocel™ line of adsorbents can be used to specifically remove certain impurities from pyrolysis oil. Purocel™ 505, in particular, is said to combine two processes: In a catalytic reaction, the product first separates the chlorine compounds and then binds the resulting chlorides. The technology removed up to three times more chlorides from pyrolysis oil than conventional solutions, the company said. Furthermore, for applications with higher requirements, recyclable metal catalysts from the Purocel™ H series can be used, in which adsorption is achieved through hydrotreating. In this process, hydrogen reacts with the remaining impurities and converts them into volatile compounds.
 
In addition to these chemical solutions, Evonik also offers modular systems for integration into existing plants. For example, using Rocket technology, Evonik supplies preconfigured column modules that would contain products from the Purocel™ product line and could be flexibly connected to both pyrolysis plants and steam crackers. This is said to enable efficient purification without major investments or long downtimes.
 
“Our solutions demonstrate how technological innovations can advance the circular economy,” said Rasch. “We are convinced that chemical recycling is a key building block for a sustainable plastics industry.”
 
Sources:

Go back