Eco Fuel Technology

Eco Fuel Technology has developed a technology to recycle plastic waste directly into diesel and other fuels without any refining processes.

Conventional pyrolysis methods that break down plastics into fuels are costly and require complex steps. Moreover, there is a need to develop mobile technologies that can be taken to locations with large quantities of plastic waste.

The company has developed a patented nano-engineered metallocene catalyst to improve the pyrolysis process. The catalyst is deposited on a porous support material and then used in controlled pyrolysis. The process directly yields diesel, gasoline and lubricating liquids without any refining required.

The pyrolysis reactor with processing capacity up to 5 tons/day is mobile and can fit into a 20-foot shipping container. It runs on 350-450 degrees Celsius, which is lower than other technologies, according to the company.

Its yields are greater than 80%. Ten pounds of plastic waste produce about one gallon of fuel. It produces gas that is reused to heat the system.

Depending on the country and region, the technology is cost-effective on a small scale. It can be scaled up to 10,000 pounds for a 10-hour day. The system can recycle waste in a continuous process and multiple reactors can be run in parallel to scale the capacity to much larger amounts.

The system accepts HDPE, LDPE, PP and PS varieties of plastics. The feedstock can have impurities or have commingled plastic. It does not have to be separated or cleaned.

The company has developed truck-top configurations of its recycling system, and also developed a portable machine that can be installed on a boat.

It is partnering with Ocean Guardian and Ocean Recovery Systems to recover and recycle ocean plastic waste. They are working with a number of parties in Southeast Asia, Australia, the Philippines, US, and Canada to install larger units of 20-60 tons/day.

The company showcased its technology at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting in 2017. They have been recognized as an important technology provider for chemical recycling of plastic by C&En news, Clooped Loop Partners, and more.