BASF develops technology to remove pyrolysis oil contaminants 

Ludwigshafen, Germany - BASF has introduced products for the purification of complex pyrolysis oils from plastics waste - though also with potential applications in tire recycling. 

The Gerrnan group’s PuriCycle catalysts and adsorbents selectively remove or convert contaminants in the oils that occur as secondary raw materials in chemical plastics recycling.

The products, said BASF, enable closed-loop, downstream processing of platics, helping recyclers to meet industry standards for the composition of pyrolysis oils.

This, stated the chemicals maker, allows “highly efficient” cleaning and processing of the process streams, as well as greater flexibility in chemical plastics recycling. 

After treatment, pyrolysis oils can be fed back in at the beginning of the value-chain for the production of polymers, said BASF.

The group went on to describe pyrolysis oil purification as “one of the most demanding challenges” in chemical plastics recycling. 

Impurities such as halogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulphur compounds, as well as reactive components such as dienes, can make downstream use more difficult, it explained 

The chemical composition also significantly limits the possibilities for further processing of these product streams in the production of new materials, it added.

Asked if the technology can be applied to rubber/tire pyrolysis, BASF informed ERJ that certain PuriCycle adsorbents 'could be used in tire-based feeds.'