As one of Spain’s leading public research institutions, CIEMAT brings cutting-edge expertise in energy and environmental technologies to the Plastics2Olefins project. With a strong focus on thermochemical valorisation of waste, their role is key in understanding and optimising the pyrolysis process.
From characterising plastic waste to improving the recovery of valuable products from pyrolysis, CIEMAT plays a central role in the Plastics2Olefins (P2O) project. Their work is essential for making plastic recycling more efficient and sustainable, especially when dealing with mixed and unsorted waste streams.
As a long-standing bridge between research and industry, CIEMAT contributes deep technical knowledge and state-of-the-art lab capabilities that help push the project closer to its goal: turning plastic waste into valuable olefins.
Who is CIEMAT?
CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas) is a Spanish Public Research Institution operating under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. With more than 1,300 professionals, CIEMAT works at the intersection of energy, environment, and technology, acting as a driver of innovation and a connector between academia and industry.
A key research unit within CIEMAT is the Unit for Sustainable Thermochemical Valorisation, led by Dr. Jose Maria Sanchez Hervas, which focuses on energy and material recovery from fuels, biomass, and waste.
“This group focuses on developing and implementing systems to promote the clean and sustainable use of a wide range of wastes. Its R&D activity encompasses primary thermochemical conversion processes, upgrading to precursors of gaseous and liquid biofuels, generation of secondary raw materials and valorisation of CO2,” says Dr. Sanchez Hervas.
How CIEMAT contributes to Plastics2Olefins
In the Plastics2Olefins project, CIEMAT is involved in Work Package 2 (WP2) and Work Package 3 (WP3). In WP2, the team is responsible for the physicochemical and thermochemical characterisation of plastic waste feedstocks. This step is essential to evaluate whether the materials meet the quality requirements for pyrolysis.
In WP3, CIEMAT is responsible for the characterisation of the biochar, as well as the revalorisation of the heavy tar-like fraction obtained during the pyrolysis of the plastics, which includes the following tasks:
- Optimising high-temperature conversion of heavy compounds into gas and char.
- Analysing the product yields from this revalorisation process.
Ongoing work and preliminary findings
To date, CIEMAT has carried out full physicochemical characterisations of waste samples provided by project partners Acteco and PreZero, in addition to analysing the char obtained from the pilot plant at REPSOL’s facilities.
The team has also made significant progress in revalorising the heavy fractions resulting from plastic pyrolysis.
“Efforts are focused on maximising the yield of light olefins. This includes studying different operating parameters such as final pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, and the use of catalysts that promote cracking, explains Dr. Sanchez Hervas.
Results and impact: From heavy tar to high-value products
According to CIEMAT’s Head of Unit for Sustainable Thermochemical Valorisation, the physicochemical and thermogravimetric analysis of unsorted plastic waste has enabled better selection of feedstocks for efficient pyrolysis.
Meanwhile, valorisation experiments on the heavy tar-like fractions have already shown promising results: increased yields of lighter olefins and valuable secondary products such as naphthenes, BTEX compounds, hydrogen, and methane.
“These findings provide valuable insights for the design of future processes that can be integrated into industrial plants to maximise olefin production and minimise waste generation,” concludes Dr. Sanchez Hervas.