Mura Technology has said the partnership will involve the construction of a “continuous flow, pilot scale testing facility” that will be used in a range of research programmes to investigate hard-to- recycle polymers.
The company has said the results will help to “drive future technology expansions” and help Mura’s chemical partners understand the potential of products from circular feedstocks.
Dr Steve Mahon, CEO of Mura Technology, said: “Our new, long-term partnership with Ghent University will help us understand fully the exciting capabilities of our Hydro-PRT process, enabling us to provide research opportunities and create partnerships with the wider value chain. The knowledge and expertise of the Laboratory for Chemical Technology in advanced recycling and petrochemical sectors makes them natural partners to help develop the potential of our technology and really showcase the benefits of advanced recycling”.
Technology
Mura Technology’s process, Hydro-PRT, uses of supercritical water (water under elevated pressure and temperature). The use of supercritical water ensures efficient and scalable conversion of plastic waste to hydrocarbons, enables the recycling of a wide range plastics, such as post-consumer packaging, and results in high yields of recycled hydrocarbons for use in the manufacture of virgin-quality, recycled plastics.
The company has detailed that through using this process there is “no limit to the number of times the same material can be recycled” and it highlights that it could have the potential to reduce the need for fossil resource in plastic production and permanently increase material circularity in the plastics industry.
Professor Kevin Van Geem, LCT professor and CTO of Capture, said “Mura’s Hydro-PRT technology not only offers a sustainable alternative for plastic waste management but also contributes to the transition towards a circular economy by reducing emissions, conserving resources and maximising efficiency and effectiveness. Moreover, Mura’s transparent approach to operations and commitment to accountability convinced me to go for this long-term collaboration.”
Commitment
Dr Geoff Brighty, head of sustainability at Mura Technology, added: “Mura is committed to the high-quality science that Professor Van Geem’s team is renowned for publishing. We look forward to future joint publications which we believe will be critical to underpinning future policy and practice in this area and provide confidence in the achievement of regulatory targets for waste recycling and net zero.”
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