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Name of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)
Plastalyst
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URL of a video introducing the work（under 5 minutes）
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/51p3kup6bpzcmt5gpk8ru/Pitch-5min.mp4?rlkey=mx6c5ulnzmxehvlldo6dzi54l&dl=0
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Detailed explanation of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)
We are in a waste crisis. Most of the waste in the world is currently burned or sent to landfill. Plastalyst makes it possible break down into waste into core chemicals such as monomers, hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), syngas for SAF and biodiesel.
Organic waste is decomposed into H2 and CO, whereas plastic is decomposed into methanol and monomers. It uses only water, waste and a reusable catalyst as input. The reaction occurred at a temperature of only 200°C. Compared to other methods, our method has significant advantages such as low energy use, which results in lower operational cost. Next, we use water as a solvent, drying of waste is not needed, therefore it will cut the cost of preparing the material. Lastly, no solvent is needed and no CO2 is emitted in the reaction. Unlike organic methods, such as biodigestion that require a lot of time and emit a lot of CO2, Plastalyst is a fast chemical method that emits no CO2.
We are currently testing our reactions at 400L scale. We will scale this to a 1.2t batch type reactor in a few months. For 2025 we are looking for partners to build demo plants, connected to chemical plants or as a continuos process. -
How does your work address the 3 P’s (for Planet, for People, for Profit) for Sustainability?
Plastalyst serves the environment in many ways:
1. Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By efficiently recycling organic waste into valuable chemicals like hydrogen and carbon monoxide without emitting CO2 during the process, the technology directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This mitigates the environmental impact of organic waste decomposition, a significant contributor to global warming.
2. Renewable Energy Production: The production of hydrogen and syngas for SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) and biodiesel offers a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. These clean energy sources can replace traditional, carbon-intensive fuels, thereby reducing carbon emissions from transportation and industrial sectors, key contributors to climate change.
3. Resource Efficiency: The technology operates at a low temperature of only 200°C, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to conventional methods. Moreover, the use of water and biomass as inputs eliminates the need for additional solvents and reduces overall resource consumption. Additionally, the elimination of biomass drying further enhances resource efficiency and cuts costs associated with material preparation.
4. Circular Economy: By converting organic waste into valuable chemicals, the Plastalyst technology promotes a circular economy model, where waste is transformed into resources. This not only minimizes landfill waste but also reduces the need for virgin materials, thus conserving natural resources and further mitigating environmental degradation.
Imagine a future where we can produce clean fuel locally. No oil extraction, no more LNG tankers, no more wars because of energy resources. In the future waste will become energy. This is especially difficult for aviation, where energy density requirements make electrification almost impossible. With Plastalyst we can finally make SAF without the need for carbon capture. -
Keywords
#recycling #hydrogen
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If you have a website for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL
https://acbiode.com/plastalyst/
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If you have a social media account for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL
https://www.linkedin.com/company/acbiode
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Special Prize Question 1: "Empowering nature to create a new loop”: How does your work strengthen or support nature’s ability to capture and convert waste into valuable resources? How does your work advance industry practices by introducing nature-positive alternatives?
Plastalyst strengthens nature's ability to capture and convert waste into valuable resources by using a chemical process that breaks down organic and plastic waste into reusable chemicals. The process uses a reusable catalyst and water as a solvent and operates at a low temperature. This results in lower energy use and operational costs compared to other methods, which often require higher temperatures and solvents. Unlike organic methods, such as biodigestion, the Plastalyst process doesn't emit CO2.
Plastalyst advances industry practices by introducing nature-positive alternatives by:
● Enabling a circular economy model: The technology transforms waste into valuable resources. These resources can then be used to create new plastics, sustainable aviation fuels, and biodiesel, reducing the need for virgin materials and minimizing landfill waste.
● Offering a more sustainable solution for hydrogen production: Current hydrogen production methods are expensive and have limitations, such as carbon emissions. Plastalyst offers a greener solution by producing hydrogen from waste without CO2 emissions.
● Providing a cost-effective and efficient method for chemical recycling: Plastalyst's low-temperature process and use of water as a solvent result in lower operational costs compared to traditional recycling methods, particularly pyrolysis, which requires refineries. This makes recycling financially attractive and can incentivise the collection of plastic waste, leading to less plastic in landfills and oceans. -
Special Prize Question 2: “Regenerating ecosystems”: In what inspiring ways does your work contribute to the restoration and stabilization of natural ecosystems?
Plastalyst's work indirectly contributes to ecosystem restoration and stabilization by tackling two major threats: plastic pollution and climate change.
Plastic Pollution: Vast amounts of plastic end up in landfills and oceans, harming ecosystems. This is because many recycling methods can’t handle mixed waste and require costly sorting. Chemical recycling that accepts mixed plastics often relies on inefficient catalysts, leading to high operating costs.
Plastalyst offers a solution with its chemical process that efficiently recycles even mixed, multi-layered, and dirty plastics at low temperatures, making it cost-effective. By creating monomers for new plastic production from this waste, Plastalyst promotes a circular economy for plastics, reducing the need for virgin materials and ultimately lessening plastic pollution.
Climate Change: Plastalyst tackles climate change in several ways. Its low-temperature process reduces energy consumption compared to methods like pyrolysis. This lower energy use translates to a lower carbon footprint for fuels or new plastics produced. Plastalyst recycles organic waste into hydrogen and syngas without emitting CO2. Traditional methods like biodigestion emit significant CO2. Plastalyst's hydrogen production offers a cleaner alternative to current methods that rely on fossil fuels and are associated with high costs and carbon emissions.
By addressing these intertwined challenges, Plastalyst indirectly supports the well-being of natural ecosystems. -
Special Prize Question 3: “Education and storytelling”: How does your work make complex bioeconomy concepts accessible and engaging?
Plastalyst offers a unique and potentially transformative approach to chemical recycling, particularly for plastics and organic waste. The company has developed a catalytic process that operates at significantly lower temperatures (below 200°C) and pressures than conventional methods like pyrolysis. This low-temperature, low-pressure operation offers several advantages, including reduced energy consumption, lower capital expenditure (CAPEX), and reduced operational costs (OPEX).
One of the key features of Plastalyst's technology is its ability to handle mixed waste streams, including multi-layered and contaminated plastics, without requiring costly pre-sorting. This is a significant advantage over traditional recycling methods that often struggle with mixed plastics. The process breaks down the waste into valuable monomers, the building blocks for new plastics, and produces syngas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be used to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and biodiesel.
The sources highlight that Plastalyst's process is environmentally friendly, emitting no CO2 during the reaction. Additionally, the use of water as a solvent further reduces the environmental impact compared to processes that rely on harsh chemicals. The company has already secured one patent for plastic recycling and has applied for another for organic waste recycling, demonstrating the novelty and potential of its technology.
Plastalyst's low-temperature, low-pressure approach also makes it suitable for smaller-scale, distributed deployments, which could bring recycling closer to communities and reduce transportation costs. This distributed model could enhance public engagement with recycling, create local job opportunities, and contribute to a more sustainable and efficient waste management system.
The sources also highlight the potential impact of Plastalyst on the bioeconomy. By creating a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to recycle plastic and organic waste, the company is enabling the production of renewable fuels and materials that can displace fossil-based alternatives. This shift towards a bio-based economy can help mitigate climate change, reduce pollution, and create new economic opportunities.
Plastalyst is actively promoting its technology through various channels, including social media, traditional news outlets, and industry conferences. This communication effort is crucial for raising awareness about the benefits of chemical recycling and engaging a wider audience in the transition to a more sustainable future. By combining technological innovation with effective communication, Plastalyst aims to make a tangible contribution to addressing global challenges like plastic pollution and climate change.
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Plastalyst - Low temperature plastic recycling
Others
We are in a waste crisis. Most of the waste in the world is currently burned or sent to landfill. Plastalyst makes it possible break down into waste into core chemicals such as monomers, hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), syngas for SAF and biodiesel.
Organic waste is decomposed into H2 and CO, whereas plastic is decomposed into methanol and monomers. It uses only water, waste and a reusable catalyst as input. The reaction occurred at a temperature of only 200°C. Compared to other methods, our method has significant advantages such as low energy use, which results in lower operational cost. Next, we use water as a solvent, drying of waste is not needed, therefore it will cut the cost of preparing the material. Lastly, no solvent is needed and no CO2 is emitted in the reaction. Unlike organic methods, such as biodigestion that require a lot of time and emit a lot of CO2, Plastalyst is a fast chemical method that emits no CO2.
Organic waste is decomposed into H2 and CO, whereas plastic is decomposed into methanol and monomers. It uses only water, waste and a reusable catalyst as input. The reaction occurred at a temperature of only 200°C. Compared to other methods, our method has significant advantages such as low energy use, which results in lower operational cost. Next, we use water as a solvent, drying of waste is not needed, therefore it will cut the cost of preparing the material. Lastly, no solvent is needed and no CO2 is emitted in the reaction. Unlike organic methods, such as biodigestion that require a lot of time and emit a lot of CO2, Plastalyst is a fast chemical method that emits no CO2.
