Yokogawa Solution Service Corp. said Oct. 31 it has signed an agreement with Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd. on the joint development of a small-scale distributed chemical recycling system that uses microwave heating. The companies plan to build a small-scale, high-efficiency recycling system.
They will combine Microwave Chemical's plastic decomposition technology with automation technology from Yokogawa based on continuous control of the thermal decomposition process, an energy management system that uses renewable energy and an electricity tracking system.
Microwave Chemical's PlaWave chemical recycling technology uses microwaves to directly heat discarded plastic and thereby speed up the process of breaking down and processing these materials. The company says this process saves energy and is suitable for use on a small scale. Microwave Chemical will develop the core apparatus for the small-scale distributed chemical recycling system, and this will have built-in continuous thermal decomposition functionality for polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene.
The companies plan to develop prototypes over the next two years that incorporate input on user needs and firm up functions and specifications. The expect to develop a commercial small-scale distributed chemical recycling system by 2025 with the aim of commercializing this system the following year.
Both companies also plan to form a consortium with retailers, chemical manufacturers, oil companies and other organizations that are involved in recycling processes.
