Complex polymer-rich material streams and their role in a circular material supply
Due to their complexity, many polymer-rich waste streams have no clear recycling option, despite the fact that the input materials in the production of the products that the waste consists of are of high quality and the chemical value of the various constituents is high.
Examples of such streams are disposable medical products, diapers, composites of polymers and cellulose fiber or polymer blends, and often these products end up contaminated in a mixture in garbage incineration. Another complication is the common presence of heteroatoms, mainly oxygen but also halogens such as chlorine and nitrogen in various polymers. Currently, these fractions are either sorted out and it becomes a concentrated fraction without a clear recycling path, or is part of the waste stream in sufficiently low concentration.
From a production perspective, these products cannot thus become circular if no recycling is applied to the waste they end up in. However, these flows have the potential to contribute to a raw material supply of a petrochemical cluster through the application of different techniques for chemical recycling depending on their composition. Techniques in question are high temperature pyrolysis, low temperature pyrolysis with subsequent gasification or cracking, gasification and as a last resort; combustion and carbon capture with subsequent synthesis of new materials based on carbon dioxide.
The aim of the project is to address the challenge of mixed polymer-rich fractions and to work strategically by meeting the need for a generic knowledge base for complex polymer-rich waste streams and thus towards a commercialization of chemical recycling. The focus is to establish a characterization methodology and evaluation methodology that serves as a basis for strategic path choices towards a circular raw material supply. The project is aimed at companies along the entire life cycle; production, waste management and recycling as well as raw material and chemical production.
The projects goal
The goal of the project is to build a generic knowledge base for thermochemical recycling of complex polymer-rich waste streams based on previously studied waste streams through:
- development and establishment of a characterization methodology for complex polymer-rich waste
- development of methodology and analysis for the characterization of products of thermochemical recycling such as oils and gases
- development of an evaluation methodology for various chemical recycling techniques that serves as a basis for strategic path choices towards a circular raw material supply
This project will be carried out as part of a doctoral project at Chalmers in collaboration with industrial partners. The ambition is to promote spin-off projects through strategic and structured work (for example via Industriklivet) and support the commercialization ambitions of the members.
In addition to this, the project will contribute to the industry's competence supply through degree projects related to company-specific issues that are supervised within the framework of the project.
Participating Parties
Chalmers, Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB, Borealis AB and Stena Recycling AB
Period
2023-01-01– 2025-12-31
Total budget
SEK 2,400,000
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