Evonik Launches Purocel™ Series — Advanced Catalysts and Adsorbents to Purify Pyrolysis Oil for Chemical Recycling
Essen, June 10, 2026 — Evonik Industries has launched the Purocel™ series, a comprehensive portfolio of specialized adsorbents and hydrotreating catalysts designed to purify pyrolysis oil derived from mixed plastic waste. The new product line addresses the single greatest technical barrier to scaling chemical recycling: converting heterogeneous, contaminated pyrolysis oil into a consistent, high-quality feedstock suitable for steam crackers.
The Chemical Recycling Bottleneck
Chemical recycling via pyrolysis — thermally decomposing mixed plastic waste in the absence of oxygen to produce pyrolysis oil — is widely recognized as essential for achieving circularity in plastics. However, the oil produced from real-world waste streams contains problematic impurities:
| Contaminant | Source | Impact on Steam Cracker |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorides (Cl) | PVC, flame retardants | Corrosion, catalyst poisoning |
| Metals (Na, K, Ca, Fe, Zn) | Additives, fillers, contamination | Fouling, catalyst deactivation |
| Nitrogen compounds | Nylon, polyurethanes | Ammonia formation, NOx emissions |
| Oxygenates | PET, polyesters, contamination | Instability, gum formation |
| Silicon | Fillers, adhesives | Refractory deposits |
| Dienes/olefins | Thermal cracking products | Gum formation, fouling |
Without effective purification, pyrolysis oil cannot meet the stringent feedstock specifications of modern steam crackers — typically <1 ppm chlorides, <0.5 ppm metals, <50 ppm nitrogen.
The Purocel™ Solution: Integrated Purification Train
Evonik’s Purocel™ series provides a modular, multi-stage purification approach that can be tailored to specific waste stream compositions and target specifications:
Purocel™ Adsorbents (Fixed-Bed Polishing)
| Product | Target Contaminants | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Purocel 505 | Chlorides (HCl, organic Cl) | High-capacity chloride scavenging, robust to moisture |
| Purocel 510 | Metals (Na, K, Ca, Fe, Zn) | Selective metal chelation, regenerable |
| Purocel 515 | Silicon, phosphorus, arsenic | Specialty adsorbent for refractory elements |
Purocel™ Hydrotreating Catalysts (Catalytic Upgrading)
| Product | Function | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Purocel HTC-1 | Hydrodechlorination, hydrogenation | Converts organic Cl to HCl for adsorbent capture; saturates dienes/olefins |
| Purocel HTC-2 | Hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodesulfurization | Deep N/S removal; stable under high contaminant loads |
| Purocel HTC-3 | Guard catalyst | Protects downstream catalysts from residual metals/silicon |
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
This sequence achieves:
- 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
- Oxygenates: Hydrodeoxygenated
Technical Differentiation
1. Synergistic Adsorbent-Catalyst Design
Unlike standalone adsorbents or catalysts, Purocel™ products are co-developed to work in sequence. The hydrotreating catalysts convert reactive contaminants (organic chlorides, dienes) into forms that the adsorbents can efficiently capture, while the adsorbents protect the catalysts from poisoning.
2. Regenerability and Circular Operation
Purocel 505 and 510 adsorbents are designed for thermal regeneration in situ, enabling cyclic operation without continuous consumable replacement — critical for economic viability at scale.
3. Feedstock Flexibility
The modular design accommodates varying waste compositions (packaging-dominated, automotive shredder residue, WEEE plastics, agricultural films) by adjusting bed sizing and sequence.
4. Drop-in Compatibility
Purocel™ catalysts fit standard fixed-bed hydrotreating reactors; adsorbents use conventional adsorption vessels. No proprietary reactor technology required.
Executive Perspectives
Dr. Ralf Düssel, Head of Catalysts at Evonik:
“Pyrolysis oil purification is the linchpin of chemical recycling. With Purocel™, we’re not just selling catalysts and adsorbents — we’re delivering a validated purification train that takes the guesswork out of feedstock qualification. Our customers can focus on scaling their recycling capacity, confident that the output will meet cracker specs.”
Dr. Harald Schwager, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Evonik:
“Chemical recycling is a growth engine for Evonik. The Purocel™ launch leverages our decades of expertise in refinery catalysts, adsorbents, and process technology to solve a critical circular economy challenge. This is specialty chemicals enabling sustainability at industrial scale.”
Market Context and Timing
The launch coincides with accelerating regulatory and commercial drivers:
- EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): Mandates recycled content in plastic packaging from 2030
- Chemical recycling capacity targets: Europe alone targeting 1.2+ Mt/yr by 2030
- Steam cracker operators: Major producers (BASF, Dow, SABIC, TotalEnergies, LyondellBasell) actively qualifying pyrolysis oil feedstocks
- Investment momentum: €8+ billion announced in European chemical recycling projects 2024-2028
Evonik’s Broader Circular Portfolio
Purocel™ complements Evonik’s existing circular economy offerings:
| 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
About Evonik
Evonik Industries AG is one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies. Headquartered in Essen, Germany, the company operates in more than 100 countries and employs approximately 33,000 people. Evonik’s Catalysts segment is a global supplier of process catalysts, adsorbents, and process technology for refining, petrochemicals, and emissions control — now extended to chemical recycling. The company is committed to sustainability through its Next Generation Evonik strategy, focusing on circular solutions, climate neutrality, and life sciences.
Source: Evonik Industries press release, June 10, 2026