BioBTX has begun constructing the first commercial-scale factory for its proprietary Integrated Catalytic Cracking Process (ICCP) technology, expected to convert plastic waste into approximately 10,000 tonnes of renewable aromatic oil per year.
The chemical manufacturer states that the aromatic oil will consist of benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) as well as 8,000 tonnes of sustainable by-products. Since the original idea was launched in 2012, the technology has progressed from lab and pilot scale to commercial implementation, aiming to accelerate the global commercialization of renewable aromatics.
BioBTX says that aromatics are important building blocks used in pharmaceuticals, coatings and plastics. The manufacturer claims to offer a circular alternative to conventional aromatics derived from fossil oil with identical performance, due to the ICCP technology which enables the direct production of drop-in chemical building blocks.
Reportedly, this will achieve a 70–80% life-cycle reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the first plant, with more savings expected in future. BioBTX hopes to help customers increase their proportion of recycled material and reduce their Scope 3 emissions.
The plant’s key equipment suppliers, contractors, and partners have been selected and the fabrication of the process modules has commenced. On-site construction is due to start in early 2027 with start-up anticipated in mid-2028.
Alongside commercial production, the plant also seeks to demonstrate that ICCP technology is feasible on a commercial scale. The first plant will focuses on mixed plastic waste, but BioBTX says its ICCP technology can be expanded to other sources such as biomass in the future.
The project’s financing is supported by BioBTX’s shareholders including Invest-NL, Infinity Recycling and Covestro and debt provided by Colesco Capital, FEAS (Fonds Economische Agenda Startkapitaal, funded by Economsiche Agenda Nij Begun) and the Province of Groningen, and a DEI+ grant awarded by RVO.
In other news, Neste has successfully commissioned a new upgrading facility for liquefied waste plastic at its refinery in Porvoo, Finland – expecting to reach an annual capacity of up to 150,000 tons of feedstock for the plastics and chemical industries. According to a life cycle assessment, using recycled Neste RE reduces abiotic depletion, or virgin fossil resource consumption, by over 70%.
More recently, Ayuda en Acción and adaPETation (IMG Group) announced the second phase of the Bamagreen project in West Africa, which transforms plastic waste into products for construction and electrification and recycled flakes that can be re-introduced into the value chain. The project is expected to create jobs, promote the social inclusion of young people and women and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable and displaced communities in Bamako and the Ségou region.
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