More Speed in Chemical Plastic Recycling

Circular Economy More Speed in Chemical Plastic Recycling

2026-06-26 Source: Pressemitteilung | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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Evonik is developing catalysts and adsorbents for the purification of pyrolysis oil from plastic waste. The goal is to improve the quality of the oil and facilitate its use as a raw material in petrochemical processes.

Evonik is developing catalysts and adsorbents for the purification of pyrolysis oil to enable its use as a raw material in petrochemical processes.(Image: Evonik Industries AG) — Evonik is developing catalysts and adsorbents for the purification of pyrolysis oil to enable its use as a raw material in petrochemical processes.
(Image: Evonik Industries AG)

In the pyrolysis process, plastic waste is broken down into its chemical building blocks at high temperatures in the absence of air. This produces, among other things, pyrolysis oil, which can supplement or partially replace fossil raw materials like naphtha and can be further processed in steam crackers to produce basic chemicals such as ethylene and propylene.

However, pyrolysis oil contains impurities such as chlorine, nitrogen, or silicon, which can affect efficiency and process reliability. "Cracker operators set strict quality standards for the raw materials used," says Hendrik Rasch, who is responsible for the Circular Packaging and Plastics Recycling segment in Evonik's Next Markets Program. Evonik offers corresponding adsorbents under the Purocel product line, which are used for the treatment of pyrolysis oil. "They help significantly improve the quality of the pyrolysis oil," Rasch adds.

Purification Steps for Better Raw Material Quality

To purify pyrolysis oil, Evonik combines various processes. Adsorbents specifically remove undesirable substances from the oil, while catalysts support chemical conversion processes. For instance, chlorine compounds are first separated in a reaction and then bound.

For higher requirements, cleaning can be supplemented by hydrotreating. In this process, remaining impurities react with hydrogen and are converted into more easily separable compounds. Reusable catalysts are also used in the process. The goal is to improve the quality of the pyrolysis oil to the point where it can be further processed in existing petrochemical plants.

Integration into Existing Processes

In addition to chemical processes, Evonik is also developing concepts for integration into existing plants. These include modular units for the purification of pyrolysis oil, which can be connected to both pyrolysis plants and downstream processes.

Chemical recycling is considered a complement to mechanical recycling, particularly for mixed or heavily contaminated plastic waste. While mechanical processes are primarily used for homogeneous materials, pyrolysis enables the reintegration of complex waste streams into the raw material cycle.

The purification of pyrolysis oil is a key prerequisite for utilizing recycled raw materials in large-scale industrial processes.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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