9FEB - MARCH - 2023This is why LyondellBasell is furthering the development of its proprietary molecular recycling technology known as MoReTec. Here, a chemical process is used to turn polymers back into monomers, which can be used again in polymer production. Unlike mechanical recycling, which relies on strict sorting of individual plastics, this technology can recycle a plastic mix containing multilayer and hybrid plastic materials, and offers the removal of any plastic additives in the material. The output from molecular recycling is not plastic as in the mechanical recycling process, but an oil that can be used as a feedstock in the creation of new plastic materials. The pyrolysis process used in molecular recycling is a known technology that has been used for years on a smaller scale to create an oil that is similar to diesel ­ a material not suitable for steam crackers used in polymer production. The work LyondellBasell is presently doing in collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is making a pyrolysis oil that has almost the same properties as naphtha, a feedstock we use at our facilities.LyondellBasell is hoping our work with KIT will result in a step-change in this technology, paving the way for the use of molecular recycling at a larger commercial scale. We are currently building a pilot plant at our site in Ferrara, Italy, to further the development of a catalyzed pyrolysis process, which involves breaking down the structure of plastic waste into small molecules. Initial trials have shown that the use of a catalyst in a pyrolysis process is faster and more energy-efficient than traditional chemical recycling, which would help to achieve scale. As the world's leading producer of polyolefins catalysts, we are confident that we have the knowledge to achieve success. Going circular ­ meaning the introduction of waste plastic back into the material stream ­is one of the ways to resolve the plastic issue
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