SUSTAINABILITY
Plastics recycling facility innovative ways to enhance waste processing and recycling capabilities . The LCET initiated the R & D Hub in collaboration with the seven original member companies .
The hub focuses on developing new technologies with lower carbon footprints and greater levels of plastic waste recycling , exploring recycling innovations in the early stage developments . Today the R & D Hub is hosted and managed by the Dutch innovation organisation TNO , which leads the technology development and conducts the projects .
By harnessing the collective expertise of industry leaders , the project aims to drive meaningful progress to advance circularity through increased recycling of plastics . Noteworthy technologies being pursued under this project include sensing for sorting , polymer / inorganic separation at mm- and µ m- scale , and enhanced solvolysis for composite recycling .
Another example of a successful member company project is the Electrically Heated Steam Cracker Furnace . Developed in a collaboration between BASF and Sabic with engineering firm Linde , the plant was officially inaugurated on 17 April after three years of development ,
engineering and construction work . It is fully integrated into the existing steam crackers at the site , and will produce olefins , such as ethylene , propylene and possibly also higher olefins from saturated hydrocarbon feedstock .
Steam crackers play a central role in the production of basic chemicals and require a significant amount of energy to break down hydrocarbons into olefins and aromatics . Typically , the reaction is conducted in furnaces at temperatures of about 850 º C . By using electricity from renewable sources in place of conventional fuels , the new technology will demonstrate the potential to reduce CO 2 emissions in one of the most energy-intensive production processes in the chemical industry by at least 90 %.
Two different heating concepts will be tested in separate demonstration furnaces : one where direct heating applies an electric current directly to the cracking coils , and another where indirect heating uses radiation heat from heating elements placed around the coils . The two furnaces process around 4 tonnes / hour of feedstock and consume 6 MW of renewable energy .
To support the development of the novel furnace technology , the German
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs & Climate Action has granted the project € 14.8 million under its ‘ Decarbonisation in Industry ’ funding programme . The project is also being financed by the EU through the ‘ NextGenerationEU ’ fund .
Conclusion
Through the exchange of knowledge , expertise , and resources , the Global Impact Coalition endeavours to effect profound and lasting change , charting a course towards a more sustainable future for the chemical industry and beyond . The coalition is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and collective action . The massive changes needed to transition the chemical industry towards net-zero emissions and circularity will require everyone to get onboard , co-building both across the industry and throughout the value chain . ●
Amanda Martin
COMMUNICATIONS LEAD
GIC k + 41 79 106 1777 J amanda . martin @ wearegic . com j www . wearegic . com
50 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981