Recently, Clariant, Borealis and Norway’s research institute Sintef have successfully completed pilot validation of a technology for upgrading waste plastic-derived pyrolysis oil.

The project aims to upgrade pyrolysis oil so it can be used as feedstock for steam crackers, thereby re‑employed as raw material for the production of new polyolefins.

The process is built around Clariant’s proprietary HDMax catalyst. Trials conducted at Sintef’s pilot facility demonstrate that pyrolysis oil from waste plastic can be converted into feedstock that fully meets the quality specifications for steam cracking units.

This technology achieves:

Full saturation of diolefins to prevent the formation of sticky, resin-like gum deposits, plus removal of oxygenates, nitrogen compounds, halogenated compounds and other impurities.