BASF manufactures products from chemical recycling of plastics

BASF is launching the ChemCycling project chemical recycling of plastic waste, residues that are not currently recycled, as mixed or contaminated plastics. Are hard plastics recycling that depending on the country end up in landfills or dumps or incinerated for energy recovery. Chemical recycling is an innovative complement to other processes of recycling and waste management, and through thermochemical processes, these plastics can be used to produce synthesis gas or pyrolysis oil. In the case of BASF, the resulting recycled raw materials can be used as inputs in your production, replacing part of the fossil resources. With the ChemCycling project, BASF manufactured products based on unique way chemically recycled plastic waste, and therefore global pioneer in the industry. In the pilot stage, BASF is already producing items that include dairy, packing shelves for refrigerators and thermal insulation panels with ten customers of various industries. ChemCycling products supplied by BASF have exactly the same properties of the products of fossil origin, that meet the high quality standards and necessary hygiene for food packaging. As next step, BASF plans to commercially available the first products of the ChemCycling project. At the beginning of the production chain, BASF uses oil from plastic waste through a process of pyrolysis feedstock production Verbund system (Chemical Compound). During the pilot, BASF gets the raw material of your partner Recenso GmbH, Germany. Alternatively, the synthesis gas, obtained from plastic waste, can also be used. The first batch of this oil was introduced in October in the steam cracker (cracking/catalytic fractionation column) of the BASF factory in Ludwigshafen. The steam cracker is the starting point for the production of Verbund. He breaks or "craqueia" this raw material at temperatures of approximately 850 degrees Celsius. The main products of the process are ethylene and propylene. These basic chemicals are used in the Verbund to produce various chemicals. With the mass balance approach, the share of recycled raw material can be assigned mathematically to the final product and certified by accredited external audit. Each customer can ensure the assigned percentage of recycled material. BASF is collaborating closely with its customers and partners, ranging from waste management to technology providers and packaging manufacturers, to establish a circular value chain.