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 engineering firm and features integrated safety systems along with remote-control capabilities. 
Testing Phase: -
After passing factory acceptance tests in April, the transportable, skid-mounted unit is heading to the Asturias region of Spain. 
The Goal: -
The team will work with the public waste management company COGERSA to process and evaluate performance on "real-life" municipal plastic waste.
Why This Matters
Unlike conventional recycling processes, the STL method can digest multiple types of plastics simultaneously, eliminating the need for extensive, expensive sorting. Furthermore, the resulting oil contains the base molecular building blocks (monomers) necessary to manufacture brand-new, virgin-quality plastic rather than degraded secondary materials.
If you are interested in this space, I can provide more details on:
Conventional pyrolysis vs. Solvothermal Liquefaction
The environmental impact and carbon footprint reduction
Other emerging chemical recycling technologies
Researchers build 25-liter pilot reactor for recycling plastic waste into oil
  The pilot plant is heading to Spain to face its ultimate test: real municipal plastic waste.
MJF Lion ER YK Sharma 

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