LyondellBasell to build its first industrial-scale catalytic recycling demonstration plant in Germany

Recently, LyondellBasell (LYB) announced that it has made a final investment decision to build the company’s first industrial-scale advanced catalytic recovery demonstration plant in Wesseling, Germany. The factory will use
LyondellBasell
Its own patented MoReTec technology converts post-consumer waste plastics into raw materials for the production of new plastic materials. When commissioned, it will be the first commercial-scale single-line advanced recycling plant and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The recycling plant is expected to have an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons and can recycle
The total amount of waste plastic packaging produced by 1.2 million German citizens in a year. The new plant is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.

LYB’s MoReTec demonstration plant will solve the difficult problem of plastic recycling, such as the recycling of mixed or flexible materials currently sent to landfill or incineration. LYB and 23Oaks Investments established a joint venture company SourceOne Plastics in October 2022. Most of the classified and processed raw materials will be supplied by the company. The advanced recycled feedstock produced at the MoReTec facility will be used to produce polymers, which will then be sold by LYB through the CirculenRevive product line, which has a wide range of applications, including medical and food packaging.

The MoReTec difference
MoReTec technology produces pyrolysis oil and pyrolysis gas. Pyrolysis oil can replace fossil-based materials in polymer production. Pyrolysis gas is usually consumed as fuel. However, using MoReTec technology, pyrolysis gas can be recovered, helping to produce polymers and replace fossil-based raw materials, thus reducing direct CO2 emissions.

In addition, the patented catalyst technology requires lower process temperatures, consumes less energy and results in higher yields. Because the process consumes less energy, it can be powered by electricity, including generating electricity from renewable resources to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

These differentiated advantages also form carbon footprint advantages. Compared with processes using fossil raw materials, this process can recycle pyrolysis gas as raw material, requires less energy, can use electrical heating design to replace fossil raw materials, and recycles waste plastics from incineration stations or landfills. Carbon footprint significantly reduced. This also allows MoReTec
becomes a unique value proposition.