30-01-2025

Sulzer launches PyroCon™ to enhance plastic and biomass waste reduction

Sulzer’s new PyroCon technology rapidly cools the gases emitted during pyrolysis, a process that heats and liquefies plastic without oxygen, limiting harmful pollutants. The resulting pyrolysis oil can be used as a fuel or refined to produce valuable chemicals. PyroCon's rapid cooling (quenching) of the pyrolysis gases prevents further chemical reactions and potential product degradation, improving quality and yield for the circular economy and helping to reduce plastic waste.

Drawing on its success at Indaver’s Plastics2Chemicals plant in Belgium, and the legacy of its plastic waste projects at Quantafuel (Denmark) and Carboliq (Germany), Sulzer is proud to add PyroCon, its new rapid condensing technology for biomass and plastic pyrolysis, to its portfolio of chemical technology solutions.

Improving quality and yields

PyroCon addresses key critical operational challenges including anti-fouling technology, low maintenance design, flexible capacity and feedstocks, ranging from polyolefins (PP/PE) and polystyrene (PS) to bio-mass waste residues. The solution is further designed to allow optimal reaction control for pyrolysis processes by rapidly quenching pyrolysis products, leading to increased yields.

Promoting a circular economy

PyroCon optimises superheated vapour condensation through unique liquid recirculation in a compact design capable of handling up to 600°C vapor inlet temperatures, joining other Sulzer Chemtech solutions that are essential to promoting circularity for solvents, chemicals, and plastics.

“We are continually striving to improve efficiencies and create value for our clients,” said Tim Schulten, President of Sulzer Chemtech. “Our new PyroCon technology effectively ensures the integrity of the plastics and bio-waste pyrolysis process, making it a valuable technology for sustainable waste management and energy recovery.”

_{This document may contain forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, projections of financial developments, market activity, or future performance of products and solutions containing risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to change based on known or unknown risks and various other factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from the statements made herein.}