Purocel
Quick Overview
Purocel™ is Evonik's brand of advanced catalysts and adsorbents for purifying pyrolysis oil from mixed plastic waste into steam-cracker-ready feedstock for chemical recycling.
Overview
Purocel™ is a proprietary portfolio of catalysts and adsorbents developed by Evonik Industries for the purification of pyrolysis oil derived from mixed plastic waste. The technology addresses the critical bottleneck in chemical recycling: converting heterogeneous, contaminated pyrolysis oil into a consistent, high-quality feedstock suitable for steam crackers.
The Problem: Pyrolysis Oil Contamination
Pyrolysis oil from real-world plastic waste streams contains problematic impurities that prevent direct use in steam crackers:
| Contaminant | Source | Impact on Steam Cracker |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorides (Cl) | PVC, flame retardants | Corrosion, catalyst poisoning |
| Metals (Na, K, Ca, Fe, Zn) | Additives, fillers | Fouling, catalyst deactivation |
| Nitrogen compounds | Nylon, polyurethanes | Ammonia formation, NOx emissions |
| Oxygenates | PET, polyesters | Instability, gum formation |
| Silicon | Fillers, adhesives | Refractory deposits |
| Dienes/olefins | Thermal cracking products | Gum formation, fouling |
Typical steam cracker specifications require: <1 ppm chlorides, <0.5 ppm metals, <50 ppm nitrogen.
The Purocel™ Solution
Evonik’s Purocel™ series provides a modular, multi-stage purification train combining hydrotreating catalysts and fixed-bed adsorbents:
Purocel™ Hydrotreating Catalysts (Catalytic Upgrading)
| Product | Function | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Purocel HTC-1 | Hydrodechlorination, hydrogenation | Converts organic Cl to HCl; saturates dienes/olefins |
| Purocel HTC-2 | Hydrodenitrogenation (HDN), hydrodesulfurization (HDS) | Deep N/S removal; stable under high contaminant loads |
| Purocel HTC-3 | Guard catalyst | Protects downstream catalysts from residual metals/silicon |
Purocel™ Adsorbents (Fixed-Bed Polishing)
| Product | Target Contaminants | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Purocel 505 | Chlorides (HCl, organic Cl) | High-capacity chloride scavenging, regenerable |
| Purocel 510 | Metals (Na, K, Ca, Fe, Zn) | Selective metal chelation, regenerable |
| Purocel 515 | Silicon, phosphorus, arsenic | Specialty adsorbent for refractory elements |
Integrated Process Flow
Pyrolysis Oil
→ [Purocel HTC-1: Hydrodechlorination/Hydrogenation]
→ [Purocel 505: Chloride Polishing]
→ [Purocel HTC-2: HDN/HDS]
→ [Purocel 510/515: Metal/Si Polishing]
→ Steam Cracker-Ready Feedstock
Achievable Purity:
- Chlorides: <0.5 ppm (from 100–5,000 ppm typical)
- Total metals: <0.1 ppm (from 10–500 ppm typical)
- Nitrogen: <10 ppm (from 500–3,000 ppm typical)
- Olefins/dienes: Saturated for stability
Technical Differentiation
- Synergistic Design – Catalysts and adsorbents co-developed to work in sequence; catalysts convert reactive contaminants into forms adsorbents can capture.
- Regenerability – Purocel 505 and 510 designed for thermal regeneration in situ, enabling cyclic operation without continuous consumable replacement.
- Feedstock Flexibility – Modular design accommodates varying waste compositions (packaging, automotive shredder residue, WEEE, agricultural films).
- Drop-in Compatibility – Fits standard fixed-bed hydrotreating reactors and adsorption vessels; no proprietary reactor technology required.
Market Context
- EU PPWR mandates recycled content in plastic packaging from 2030
- Chemical recycling capacity targets: Europe targeting 1.2+ Mt/yr by 2030
- Major cracker operators (BASF, Dow, SABIC, TotalEnergies, LyondellBasell) actively qualifying pyrolysis oil feedstocks
- €8+ billion announced in European chemical recycling projects (2024–2028)
Evonik’s Circular Portfolio
| Product Line | Application |
|---|---|
| VESTENAMER® | Process additive for mechanical recycling of rubber/polymers |
| TEGO® Cycle | Additives enabling recyclability of coatings and adhesives |
| DEGACRYL® | Recyclable adhesive systems |
| Purocel™ | Pyrolysis oil purification for chemical recycling |
Resources
- Evonik Purocel™ Product Brochure
- Technical Whitepaper: Pyrolysis Oil Purification for Steam Cracker Feed
- Evonik Catalysts for Circular Economy
Last updated: July 10, 2026
Source: Evonik Industries press releases and technical documentation