Circular lubricant initiative: transforming plastic waste into high-performance oils

Overview

The Circular Lubricant Initiative introduces a groundbreaking method to convert mixed polyolefin-rich plastic packaging waste into high-performance lubricant oil using a mild hydroconversion process. This technique leverages an earth-abundant, cost-effective nickel-molybdenum sulfide catalyst to selectively break down carbon-carbon bonds in the polyolefin backbone at temperatures between 250–300°C. The process achieves an impressive 80-85% yield without the need for solvents and operates continuously, thereby enhancing productivity and sustainability. By addressing the critical challenge of plastic waste, this initiative provides a circular solution that transforms post-consumer packaging into valuable resources.

Technical specifications

• Catalyst: Nickel-molybdenum sulfide, designed for high selectivity and impurity tolerance
• Process: Continuous operation in a slurry bubble column reactor, known for its excellent heat and mass transfer properties
• Conditions: Operates at 250–300°C and 30-60 bar hydrogen pressure
• Output: Produces lubricants meeting group I base oil specifications with methane and naphtha as byproducts
• Compatibility: Process is unaffected by plastic additives, colorants, antioxidants, and slip agents
• Scalability: Low-capex integration into existing refinery infrastructure, enabling continuous operation

Technology readiness level

This technology is currently at TRL 5, indicating that it has been validated in a laboratory environment with real-world post-consumer waste. The future validation plan includes optimizing feedstock and catalyst, qualifying product properties, and scaling up the continuous process to facilitate commercial deployment.