Researchers at the University of Amsterdam developed a mobile, 25-liter pilot reactor that converts mixed, unsorted plastic waste into reusable oil in under 30 minutes. The technology, which is scaling up for real-world testing, offers a sustainable method to close the plastic recycling loop.
Researchers at the University of Amsterdam developed a mobile, 25-liter pilot reactor that converts mixed, unsorted plastic waste into reusable oil in under 30 minutes. The technology, which is scaling up for real-world testing, offers a sustainable method to close the plastic recycling loop. The Solvothermal Liquefaction (STL) Process How it works: - Unsorted plastic waste is fed into a sealed reactor and broken down using a potent mixture of solvent, elevated heat, and high pressure. Advanced Catalysis: - Specially engineered nanostructured solid catalysts accelerate the chemical breakdown without being consumed. Process Time: - The plastic is broken down in just under 30 minutes. The Outputs: - The process yields gas (which is redirected to power the system), solid char (which is filtered out), and a valuable dark brown oil. Industrial Scaling & Real-World Testing The System: - The mobile, 25-liter pilot plant was built in partnership with an Indian ...