A team of researchers at the University of Amsterdam has developed a new way to recycle mixed plastic waste that could help reduce the amount of plastic sent to landfills or incinerators.
Their new pilot plant can convert different types of plastic waste into oil, which can then be used to make new plastics.
The technology was developed by the university’s Catalysis Engineering Group as part of the European PLASTICE project.
The process, called Solvothermal Liquefaction (STL), uses a combination of heat, pressure, solvents, and special catalysts to break down plastic waste into useful materials.
One of the biggest advantages of the new process is that it can handle many different kinds of plastics at the same time.
Most recycling systems require plastics to be carefully sorted before they can be processed, which is expensive and time-consuming.
Mixed plastic waste is often difficult to recycle and is frequently burned or buried in landfills. The new technology could provide a more practical solution.
The researchers have spent several years developing and testing the process in the laboratory. During the reaction, plastic waste is converted into three main products: gas, oil, and a solid material called char. The char is removed through filtration, water used in the process is recovered and reused, and the oil is separated for further use.
The oil produced by the process contains chemical building blocks that can be used to manufacture new, high-quality plastics. This means the technology could help create a more circular plastics economy, where old plastics are turned back into new products instead of becoming waste.
Associate Professor Shiju Raveendran, who leads the project, said the research team has gained a deep understanding of how the process works and believes it is ready for testing on a larger scale. The team has already conducted detailed studies on reaction behavior, computer simulations, economic feasibility, and possible uses for by-products.
To move the technology closer to commercial use, the researchers designed and built a pilot plant featuring a 25-liter reactor vessel. The system includes storage tanks, safety systems, and both local and remote control capabilities. It was developed in partnership with an engineering company in India that specializes in industrial process equipment.
The pilot plant recently passed important factory acceptance tests and safety reviews. It is now being assembled into a transportable unit and will soon be shipped to Spain.
This summer, the plant is expected to begin operating at the facilities of COGERSA, a public waste management company in the Asturias region of Spain. There, researchers will test how well the technology handles real municipal plastic waste collected from households and businesses.
Raveendran expects new challenges to emerge during the pilot phase, but says that is exactly the purpose of scaling up the technology.
He believes the project demonstrates how university research can be transformed into practical solutions that address real-world environmental problems while helping build a more sustainable future.
