(61f) THE CHALLENGES OF INTEGRATING PLASTIC WASTE WITHIN A STEAM CRACKER

Considerable work is being carried out by Technip Energies and others on technologies to reduce the Scope 1 and 2 steam cracker CO2 emissions (from direct firing and imported energy). Reduction of the Scope 3 CO2 emissions, associated with the preparation of feed stock, manufacture of finished products and end of life of the plastics, is significantly more challenging for the industry, particularly for gas cracking plants, for which oils from recycling are not suitable feeds. The reduction of the scope 3 emissions of steam crackers is significantly dependent on its feedstock composition and its associated environmental footprint. Being successful in the transformation from fossil-based to alternative feedstock is one of the levers to achieve the overall reduction of CO2 emissions from ethylene plants. Pyrolysis of plastic waste can help tackle this objective, whilst simultaneously providing for a circular economy as the associated products can be successfully processed in steam crackers. The presentation will showcase a differentiated plastic waste cracking technology; one plastic waste cracking technology that produces an olefin-rich gas as the main product. We will look at how the challenges associated with steam cracker integration can be unlocked through adequate purification and fractionation, all of which has been achieved through the successful collaboration between Synova and Technip Energies. Synova, as a technology provider will discuss the characteristics of its MILENA/OLGA process, including the main differentiators compared to conventional pyrolysis oil processes and Technip Energies, as the purification technology provider, will explain how it’s Pure.rGasTM train can bridge the gap towards cracker integration in the recovery section of a gas or liquid cracker plant. The benefits of the combined technology allowing the recovery of high value compounds (ethylene, propylene, light paraffins, butadiene and BTX) from plastic waste while mitigating the presence of contaminants (NOx, CO, metals, chlorides, HCN, acid gases, oxygenates, sulfur compounds, etc.) will be demonstrated and, as an illustration, some typical overall yields will be showcased along with the results of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The LCA shows the expected CO2 reduction provided by the combined technology offering.