Chemical recycling of polycarbonates reaches milestone, scaling up to commercialization
Covestro has developed an innovative process for chemical recycling polycarbonate, which is polychain plastics, to achieve sustainable closed cycle. The technical implementation of chemical recycling polycarbonate has begun on a pilot scale.
Newly developed chemical recycling process on polycarbonate closes the loop of plastic life.
Chemical recycling of polycarbonate is a specific chemolysis process adapted to polycarbonate – it converts plastic back into monomers, i.e. a precursor of plastics, and feed the alternative raw materials back into the production process.
A complementary way for larger waste streams
Chemical recycling polycarbonate works in a complementary way to mechanical recycling as mechanical recycling requires sufficiently pure waste streams, while chemical recycling can be implemented on presorted, larger waste streams containing a product content of more than 50% polycarbonate. It also allows plastics production of a higher quality requirements.
Such high-quality recycled raw materials are needed for applications that require top quality, including in automotive sector and consumer electronics.
“Such high-quality recycled raw materials are needed for applications that require top quality. These include, for example, applications in the automotive sector with special requirements in terms of safety, optical transparency or aesthetics, and products in our everyday lives such as consumer electronics,” says Lily Wang, Head of the Engineering Plastics Business Entity.
Chemolysis process allows the recyclate made to meet requirements for high-performance applications such as car headlights.
Expand to commercialization
Covestro is planning to optimize the chemical recycling process and further expand to industrial scale. A pilot plant, which will be built in Leverkusen, Germany, is currently in the planning stage. It will be used to gather the experience needed for further expansion to industrial scale. Millions of euros will be invested over the next few years.
Covestro is also exploring alternative ways to recycle polycarbonate, including recycling with enzymes that break down the plastic and smart pyrolysis. Promising alternatives can also be tested in the pilot plant.
