Our Technology

From day one, Quantafuel’s fundamental idea has been to solve the world’s plastic waste problem by transforming soiled plastic into new products. That is our contribution to the circular economy of plastic waste.

What makes Quantafuel unique is that we have developed technology that purifies the gas formed by the process and alter the molecules. This allows us to produce a chemically-recycled, attractive product that satisfies a huge demand in the market. The entire value chain needs to be circular.

This partnership is a first step to building up a broad supply base for Chemcycled products. This enables us to support our customers in achieving their sustainability targets.

– Hartwig Michels, president Petrochemicals, BASF

1. Plastic waste

Quantafuel has secured a supply chain that integrates state-of-the-art mechanical recycling for a continuous supply of plastic waste that is optimal for chemical recycling.

2. Pyrolysis

The plastic waste is heated without oxygen so that the polymers are decomposed and gasified into shorter chains of hydrocarbons. This process is called pyrolysis, which in itself is a mature technology—but it is only the beginning for Quantafuel.

3. Purification

Pyrolysis results in a complex oil that contains undesirable impurities if left untreated. As a first step, Quantafuel therefore purifies the pyrolysis gas by removing ash and detrimental impurities such as chlorine and sulphur.

4. Catalyst

Part of Quantafuel’s technology is a two-stage catalytic process in the gas phase. We maximize the valorisation of plastic waste by utilising carefully-engineered catalysts to increase the quality of desirable hydrocarbons.

5. New plastic products

The gas is thereafter condensed and separated into sought-after oil fractions through distillation. The largest fraction is earmarked raw material for new plastics, thereby enabling the circular economy of chemical recycling.

Our Journey

Quantafuel built its first test facility in Mexico in 2014. The purpose of the factory was to thoroughly test the technology so that we had all the necessary experience to build the first plant. The facility was tested with all types of plastic and provided us with the necessary proof that our technology for chemically recycling different types of plastic actually works.

Quantafuel is proud to have started our first brand-new production facility in Skive, Denmark. Quantafuel’s Plastic-to-liquid (Ptl) plant is the first of its kind in the world, and the start-up is an incredibly important milestone for the company.

The factory is presently scaled to process 20,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste per year, waste that would otherwise be incinerated or disposed of in landfills. We receive waste from households in Norway and Denmark.

All products manufactured in Skive will be shipped to BASF in Germany, who will upgrade the raw material to new plastic products and chemicals. We have sourced more than enough plastic waste – which we are paid to receive – and everything we produce has already been sold to BASF.

New plants

The next phase will be to build more and significantly larger facilities across Europe. Large consumer companies have pledged to step up their use of recycled materials. To respond to the demand, we will need to escalate our production capacity. All our new plants will be built to meet the highest sustainability standards.

The Challenge

Plastic is the man-made material growing fastest worldwide, and we have become completely reliant on it. Why?

Our Solution

Our solution is to place a value on plastic waste. We must start treating used plastic as a valuable resource, establishing a model for plastic waste collection and upgrading it to recycled products. The entire value chain needs to be circular.

Plants & Projects

In line with Quantafuel’s vision to become the world’s most significant contributor to the sustainable handling of plastic waste, we are now ready to roll out technology and plants throughout Europe.

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