Thermochemical recycling

The goal of this program line is to improve the quality of thermochemical recycling techniques. This will be done in part by converting residual streams that otherwise cannot be properly recycled to BTX and to olefins, and by focusing on demos and a showcase.

This project brings together leading companies, universities, and research institutions to scale up an innovative chemical recycling technology: Integrated Cascading Catalytic Pyrolysis (ICCP). This technology, developed by BioBTX, converts mixed plastic waste and biomass into valuable circular chemical building blocks such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX), as well as olefin- and paraffin-rich streams. A €10 million grant from CPNL supports the upscaling of this technology, creating a sustainable alternative for waste streams that are currently difficult to recycle and contributing to reducing CO₂ emissions, limiting waste incineration, and strengthening the circular economy.

Project partners: BioBTX, Ketjen Corporation, NTCP, ExxonMobil, Teijin Aramid, University of Twente, University of Groningen, DPI, ISPT, and CPI

Following the CPNL grant scheme in 2025, these projects began:

• Catalytic Low-temp Efficiency for Advanced decontaminatioN (CLEAN)
• Optimal Chain for Efficient and AdvaNced Recycling of Mixed Plastic OCEAN-RMP

See also:

• Community & Projects
• News release about the projects
• RVO website

Catalytic Low-temp Efficiency for Advanced decontaminatioN (CLEAN) is developing new, energy-efficient catalysts to recycle plastic waste—particularly polyolefin films—more cleanly and efficiently into high-quality raw materials. The project is working on an innovative process chain spanning from waste collection to chemical reuse, with the goal of reducing the carbon footprint of chemical recycling.

Project partners: Utrecht University, Renewi, BlueAlp, Shell

Optimal Chain for Efficient and AdvaNced Recycling of Mixed Plastic (OCEAN-RMP), is investigating how mixed plastic waste can be pre-treated more efficiently and processed into high-quality feedstock for chemical recycling. It is working with partners on new pre-treatment techniques and chain optimization to improve the quality of pyrolysis oils and make the circular plastic chain economically feasible.

Project partners: Attero, Renewi, Maastricht University, Chemelot Campus, Sabic, Sitch Services, TNO

Contact the experts on the CPNL team.