Evonik Facilitates Chemical Recycling of Plastics with Pyrolysis Oil Quality Solutions
ESSEN, Germany — Evonik Industries AG has launched a comprehensive portfolio of catalysts and adsorbents under the Purocel™ brand designed to upgrade pyrolysis oil quality for use as steam cracker feedstock, marking a significant advance in industrial-scale chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste.
The new solutions address a critical bottleneck in chemical recycling: pyrolysis oil derived from mixed plastic waste typically contains contaminants — including chlorides, metals, nitrogen, and oxygen compounds — that exceed steam cracker specifications and cause corrosion, fouling, and catalyst poisoning in downstream petrochemical processes.
Technology Overview
Evonik’s modular approach combines:
- Purocel™ catalysts for hydrotreatment: remove heteroatoms (N, O, S) and saturate olefins to improve stability
- Purocel™ adsorbents: selectively remove chloride, metals, and other contaminants to ppm levels
- Process integration expertise: tailored reactor configurations for different pyrolysis oil compositions
The technologies were presented at Evonik’s Innovation Press Conference on June 10, 2026, where the company positioned chemical recycling as a strategic growth area alongside green hydrogen and sustainable catalysts.
Market Context
Chemical recycling via pyrolysis is gaining traction as mechanical recycling reaches its limits with contaminated, mixed, and multi-layer plastic waste streams. The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) mandates recycled content targets that will require both mechanical and chemical recycling capacity to scale rapidly.
“Pyrolysis oil is the key to closing the loop for plastics that cannot be mechanically recycled,” said Dr. Ralf Düssel, Head of Catalysts at Evonik. “But raw pyrolysis oil is not a drop-in feedstock. Our Purocel technologies bridge the gap between waste-derived oil and refinery specifications.”
Technical Advantages
- Chloride removal to <1 ppm: critical for preventing corrosion in steam crackers
- Metals removal: protects downstream catalysts from poisoning
- Modular design: adaptable to varying feedstock compositions from different waste streams
- Commercial readiness: pilot-tested with multiple pyrolysis oil sources
Circular Economy Impact
By enabling pyrolysis oil to meet steam cracker feedstock specifications, Evonik’s solutions allow plastic waste to re-enter the petrochemical value chain at the base chemical level — producing virgin-quality polymers with certified recycled content via mass balance allocation.
The company is actively collaborating with pyrolysis plant operators, technology licensors, and refinery owners to integrate Purocel units into existing and new chemical recycling hubs across Europe.
Resources
- Evonik Press Release: Facilitates the Chemical Recycling of Plastics
- Evonik Pyrolysis Expertise Page
- Purocel Product Brochure (PDF)
Company Boilerplate
Evonik Industries AG is one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies. The Catalysts segment develops high-performance catalysts and process technologies for the chemical and energy industries, enabling more sustainable and efficient production routes.
Source: Evonik press release, June 10, 2026