Corrected: Feiplastic ’19: INEOS Styrolution seeks more ways to recycle PS

SAO PAULO (ICIS)–INEOS Styrolution is looking for more ways to recycle polystyrene (PS) after recent partnerships have developed different technologies to break down the resin into its monomers, an executive said.

Agilyx is using pyrolysis to break down PS into styrene oil at its plant in Tigard, Oregan, said Alexander Gluck, president, Americas, INEOS Styrolution. He made his comments on the sidelines of the Feiplastic plastic trade show.

Agilyx is providing the resulting styrene oil to INEOS Styrolution and AmSty, which are using it to make PS.

In addition, INEOS Styrolution has entered into a joint development agreement with Agilyx to have a recycling plant next to its PS plant in Channahon, Illinois, Gluck said.

Pyrowave, a company in Canada, is working with INEOS Styrolution and ReVital Polymers to break down PS using microwaves, he said.

ReVital will install Pyrowave’s catalytic microwave depolymerisation (CMD) technology as part of its plastic recycling process, INEOS Styrolution said. This will break down the plastic into styrene, which INEOS Styrolution will use to make PS.

“We are looking at deals with other companies that use other technologies as well,” he said.

The Feira Internacional do Plastic (Feiplastic) takes place on 22-26 April in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Click here to see regulatory targets and a list of chemical and mechanical recyclers on the ICIS Circular Economy topic page.

Interview article by Al Greenwood