PTQ Q1 2026 Issue

Figure 3 OMV’s 16,000 mtpy ReOil unit is the next-scale expansion of its advanced chemical recycling technology. OMV’s engineers demonstrated the seamless integration of ReOil circular feedstocks into refinery processes. Source: OMV

existing refinery hydrotreaters to upgrade the pyrolysis products. Partnering with plastic recycling innovators Refining and petrochemical companies are partnering with technology licensors and innovators to upgrade waste plastics as usable feedstocks. The Mol Group, an integrated Central Eastern European oil and gas company, is in the design phase for an on-site advanced chemical recycling unit. The new facility will use Lummus Technology’s propri- etary large-scale advanced pyrolysis technology (Table 2). This innovative pyrolysis facility will process 40,000 tpy of mixed plastic into petrochemical feedstocks. In addition, the plant design incorporates a fully electric pyrolysis reac- tor, resulting in zero direct Scope 1 emissions. The pyrolysis gas fraction can be recovered as a product or used to gen- erate electricity. Lummus Technology’s large-scale advanced pyrolysis process converts hard-to-recycle plastics. This catalytic pyrolysis technology operates at lower temperatures, gen- erates no char, and minimises contaminants in the final products. The pyrolysis products are suitable for steam crackers or fluid catalytic crackers without additional upgrading, according to Lummus Technology. The MOL Group will process the pyrolysis feedstocks at its Tiszaṹjvắros, Hungary, petrochemical operations. This complex operates two ethylene steam crackers, five pol- ymer units, and a butadiene unit. Lummus Technology’s experience in steam and catalytic cracking will optimise the integration of the pyrolysis unit with MOL Group’s down- stream assets. The site’s polymers and other compounds provide sustainable materials for the automotive, construc- tion, and packaging sectors. TotalEnergies has ambitious sustainability goals of produc- ing one million tons of circular polymers by 2030. To achieve these goals, the company is partnering with several pyroly- sis innovators and technology licensors. Its cornerstone sus- tainability project is the conversion of its Grandpuits refinery to a zero-crude platform. This project reconfigures exist- ing assets for biorefinery operations. Plans also include an advanced chemical recycling facility, which is a joint venture (JV) between TotalEnergies (60%) and Plastic Energy (40%). The recycling facility will use Plastic Energy’s proprietary Thermal Anaerobic Conversion (TAC) pyrolysis process (Table 2). It will be the first TAC unit operating in France.

The Grandpuits recycling unit will process 15,000 tpy of mixed waste plastics, with a commercial operation that was to have begun at the time of this writing. Additionally, TotalEnergies and Plastic Energy are evalu- ating a new JV TAC unit to be located in Seville, Spain. Plastic Energy currently operates two pyrolysis facilities in Spain. The proposed JV TAC unit will process 33,000 tpy of waste plastics and is under the feasibility stage. TotalEnergies is also partnering with Honeywell UOP and Sacyr to develop an advanced plastic recycling facility in Andalusia, Spain, using Honeywell UOP’s proprietary UpCycle technology (Table 2). Teaming up with recycling innovators Pyrolysis is not a new technology. However, building industrial-scale pyrolysis recycling facilities that contin- uously process mixed plastics is a recent development. Partnerships between technology developers and hydro- carbon processing operators are vital to move pyrolysis innovations from the pilot-plant stage to full-scale units. Several pyrolysis innovators are partnering with global operators to commercialise recycling innovations. Investors needed to advance circularity innovations Independent innovator Alterra is teaming up with major petrochemical companies to advance its pyrolysis process (Table 2). Investors include LyondellBasell, CPChem, Neste, and circular funds (Infinity Recycling and Potenza Capital). Alterra operates a commercial-scale, continuous plastic pyrolysis unit in Akron, Ohio. Several major refining and petrochemical companies tested and approved Alterra’s pyrolysis oil as a suitable feedstock. Consistent quality of plastic pyrolysis oils is critical for adoption as an alternative to virgin feedstocks. “Over the last 10 years, Alterra created a large database of feedstock characteristics, thus enabling the precise pre- diction of pyrolysis oil quality and process efficiencies,” said Valerio Coppini, Chief Commercial Officer, Alterra. The company has several projects under development (Table 2). Neste, Technip Energies, and Alterra are collaborating on a standardised, modular 40,000 tpy plant design. Unconventional pyrolysis solutions are emerging Conventional pyrolysis is a thermal process (Figure 1). However, a recent innovation uses microwave energy to

PTQ Q1 2026