HydroCat
technology

HydroCat:
Third-Generation Hydro-pyrolysis

Mixed biomass-plastic waste streams are often difficult to recycle and are therefore incinerated or landfilled. HydroCat has developed a third-generation pyrolysis solution specifically for this waste stream, with an integrated hydrogenation step.
With HydroCat's hydro-pyrolysis, a high-quality marketable fuel is produced with a high caloric value. HydroCat prevents this mixed waste stream from ending up in the waste incinerator and losing energy.

High-Quality
Circular Solution

Currently, mono-waste streams are used for pyrolysis mainly consisting of plastic or rubber. HydroCat's 'feedstock' consists of a mixed waste stream of biomaterial contaminated with plastic. Think of a tomato plant growing up a plastic stem, a banana in a plastic bag, coffee in a cup, or ocean plastic with seaweed.
In the Netherlands alone, 8,000,000 tons of waste are incinerated each year, of which about half can be used for HydroCat. Prevention by improving the recyclability of materials is the best approach. But practice shows that a lot of unavoidable waste remains. HydroCat's hydro-pyrolysis process enables this waste stream, which is now difficult to recycle and non-recyclable, is recycled more extensively and with a much lower CO2 footprint than incineration.

HydroCat-Biobrandstof
OBBOTEC-HydroCat-afvalstroom

More Efficient Than Traditional Pyrolysis Processes

With the third generation of hydro-pyrolysis, raw material for producing plastic is produced in the form of biofuel. This (partly biogenic) fuel can be used to produce plastics or low-sulphur, green fuel for shipping.
Moreover, HydroCat's hydro-pyrolysis process delivers a better-quality product than biomass in a conventional pyrolysis process. This is caused by an integrated hydrogenation step that generates hydrogen, where oxygen is removed from the biomass molecules (deoxygenation). In traditional, second-generation pyrolysis solutions, fossil hydrogen from an external source is added, which has a negative impact on the business case and CO2 footprint. The HydroCat solution is therefore economically stronger on a much larger stream of mixed waste than traditional pyrolysis processes.

In the animation below we explain the HydroCat waste conversion unit and all it’s advantages.

Wide Range of
Applications for Varying Compositions

Hydrocat's hydro-pyrolysis technology works at different proportions of the mixed bio-plastic waste stream. It works from a waste stream with 100% biomass. A ratio of 90% biomass and 10% plastic yields largely-green fuel of optimum quality. In terms of efficiency, HydroCat's technology is most efficient at a ratio of 50% plastic and 50% biomass.

Our Decentralized
HydroCat Model

HydroCat's transportable units make hydro-pyrolysis technology accessible in many locations. The HydroCat unit is:

1. Easy to install
2. Free from a solid foundation required for the unit
3. Easily transported with only three trucks needed

This means that recycling is now possible even on a small island. For example, a small HydroCat unit can be built close to a waste processor or a fuel dealer. At the waste treatment facility, a mixed stream of biomass and plastic can be separated from mono-material streams. As no large amount of waste is required, the waste can be processed in small quantities. A HydroCat unit can recycle 10 kilotons of biomass and plastics waste per year, equivalent to the household waste of a small town of 20,000 inhabitants.

HydroCat partners

Would you like more information about HydroCat's recycling technology?
Please contact us