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Revolution in petrochemicals: Towards oil independence!
KIT researchers and partners are developing a technology roadmap for the petrochemical industry in the transition to a circular economy.
Revolution in petrochemicals: Towards oil independence!
The petrochemical industry is at a turning point as the urgency to become independent of petroleum becomes more and more prominent. To address this challenge, a research group led by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) launched the GreenFeed project together with the Wuppertal Institute and the University of Kassel. The aim is to develop alternative sources of raw materials and to put the petrochemical industry on a sustainable basis in the long term.
As part of the project, key technologies were examined and summarized in a comprehensive technology roadmap. This roadmap provides key insights into how the industry can move forward without oil. A particular focus was on technologies for plastic recycling and their technical feasibility. Professor Dieter Stapf from KIT emphasizes that chemical products can be produced in a climate-neutral manner by combining the circular economy and renewable raw materials.
Role of chemical recycling
In connection with the results of the GreenFeed project, chemical recycling is becoming increasingly important. This emerging technology is seen as crucial to carbon reduction and part of a comprehensive circular economy for plastics. Loud BASF Chemical recycling complements the existing processes of material and organic recycling. It is particularly suitable for mixed plastic waste streams where sorting is uneconomical and often impossible.
In this process, plastic waste is broken down into chemical building blocks, which are then used to produce new plastics or other chemical products. This is particularly important to save fossil resources and prevent more plastic waste from being incinerated and landfilled. The products made from chemical recycling have the same properties as those made from fossil raw materials, which makes them easier to use in applications with high hygiene or safety requirements.
Innovations and future prospects
The insights gained from the GreenFeed project are to be translated into concrete innovation paths for the industry. An industrial advisory board accompanied the research, and stakeholders from science, business and politics had the opportunity to discuss the interim results in workshops. This interdisciplinary collaboration could lead to the petrochemical industry setting new standards in terms of sustainability and resource conservation.
In conclusion, chemical recycling is more than just a necessity; it represents a promising addition to counteract the challenges of the plastic waste crisis. The research by KIT, the Wuppertal Institute and the University of Kassel is seen as a pacesetter to lead petrochemistry into a defossilized future and advance the transition to renewable raw materials.