German specialty chemicals company Evonik has introduced advanced catalyst and adsorbent technologies designed to improve the quality of pyrolysis oil, supporting the growing role of chemical recycling in the circular plastics economy.
Chemical recycling converts mixed and contaminated plastic waste into valuable raw materials through pyrolysis, a process that breaks down plastics at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. The resulting pyrolysis oil can be used as an alternative feedstock in steam crackers to produce key petrochemical building blocks such as ethylene and propylene.
However, pyrolysis oil often contains impurities including chlorine, nitrogen, and silicon, which can reduce efficiency and create operational risks in steam crackers. To address these challenges, Evonik has developed specialized purification technologies aimed at enhancing feedstock quality.
The company’s Purocel™ product range includes adsorbents specifically designed to remove contaminants from pyrolysis oil. One of its flagship solutions, Purocel™ 505, combines catalytic dechlorination and adsorption technology, enabling the removal of significantly higher levels of chlorides compared to conventional methods.
For applications requiring even higher purity standards, Evonik offers hydrotreating solutions that use hydrogen to convert remaining impurities into removable volatile compounds. The process also incorporates recycled catalysts to improve resource efficiency.
In addition to purification products, Evonik provides modular treatment systems that can be integrated into existing recycling and petrochemical facilities. Its Rocket Technology platform features pre-engineered adsorption units that allow operators to upgrade pyrolysis oil quality with minimal investment and operational disruption.
The company says its technologies help expand the use of recycled feedstocks, reduce dependence on fossil resources, and improve supply security while supporting global efforts to build a more sustainable plastics value chain.
As regulatory pressure and demand for circular economy solutions continue to grow, chemical recycling is gaining momentum as a complementary approach to mechanical recycling, particularly for plastic waste streams that are difficult to process through conventional methods.
Evonik believes that improved pyrolysis oil purification will play a key role in accelerating the commercialization and scalability of chemical recycling worldwide.
