Joint venture will convert plastic waste to high-value chemicals

Synova, SABIC Global Technologies B.V., and Technip Energies (T.EN) have have agreed to collaborate on the development and realization of a commercial plant, which will produce olefins and aromatics from plastic waste.

The plant will use a combined technology developed by Synova and T.EN and will be integrated with one of SABIC’s steam crackers.

Synova’s proprietary solids cracking technology (MILENA) will be used in combination with its gas conditioning and tars removal technology (OLGA) for the conversion of plastic waste into product gas, which contains high value chemicals. T.EN’s proprietary gas treatment technology (Pure.rGas) will remove contaminants from the product gas and purify it to bring the final products up to a specification compatible with processing in a steam cracker downstream of the cracker furnace.

The combined technology efficiently converts plastic waste into high value chemicals, enabling an efficient plastic circularity route and significant reduction of greenhouse gas emission.

SABIC’s affiliate SABIC Ventures US Holdings LLC has become an investor in Synova.Synova will use their investment to enhance the development of its technology and to strengthen its engineering capabilities.

“I am thrilled that SABIC has joined Synova as an investor and development partner. This proves the confidence SABIC has in our team and our technology,” said Jörg Krüger, CEO and managing director at Synova.

“ We were the first in our industry to commit to the upscaling of the advanced recycling of used plastics. This new cooperation is another example of our commitment and we believe this technology can play a major role in converting lower quality mixed plastic waste into virgin olefins,” said Frederik Hoornaert, General Manager Chemicals Technology & Innovation at SABIC.