UvA: Pilot Plant Brings Chemical Recycling of Mixed Plastic Waste Closer to Industrial Application

The Catalysis Engineering research group at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) has developed a process for recycling mixed plastic waste. A newly constructed pilot plant is now set to demonstrate how such waste streams can be converted into valuable feedstocks for the production of new plastics. The facility will be tested in Spain using plastic waste from municipal collection streams.

The process was developed within the European “Plastice” project, led by Dr. Shiju Raveendran at the Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences of UvA. The technology, known as solvothermal liquefaction, converts mixed plastic waste into oil using solvents, heat, catalysts, and elevated pressure. The resulting oil contains molecules that can serve as feedstocks for the production of new plastics.

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A key feature of the process is its ability to handle different types of plastics simultaneously. This addresses complex mixed waste streams that currently require extensive sorting and are often incinerated or sent to landfill.

Following laboratory-scale trials, the project is now entering a demonstration phase at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6/7. Within the nearly €20 million project, Raveendran received more than €1.5 million to develop the process. Laboratory tests produced three output streams after 30 minutes of reaction time: gas, oil, and solid residues. The solid residues are separated, water is recovered and reused, and the oil is further processed.

The work included kinetic studies, CFD modelling, techno-economic assessments, and investigations into the utilisation of by-products. Nanostructured solid catalysts for processing the plastic fraction were also developed and tested.

The pilot plant features a 25-litre reactor vessel, storage tanks, integrated safety systems, and both local and remote control capabilities. It was developed together with an Indian engineering partner specialising in industrial process systems. The Factory Acceptance Test was successfully completed in April. During development, safety and process assessments, including HAZOP studies, were carried out, and the engineering designs were reviewed by Bureau Veritas.

The plant is currently being assembled into a transportable skid-mounted unit before being shipped from India to Spain. Operations are scheduled to begin this summer at the facilities of project partner Cogersa in the Asturias region. Together with the public waste management company, UvA will evaluate the performance of the process under real-world conditions using municipal plastic waste.

For the research group, the pilot plant represents a significant step from academic process development towards an industrially relevant technology. Beyond technical challenges, scaling up the process also involves regulatory assessments, safety evaluations, certification activities, and collaboration with engineering and industrial partners.

University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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