Tie-ups: LyondellBasell acquires 25% of Cyclyx jv; Lummus acquires Air Liquide’s acrylic acid/acrylates technology

Cyclyx International, a joint venture between Agilyx and ExxonMobil, announces that LyondellBasell has acquired 25% equity ownership of the joint venture. LyondellBasell joining Cyclyx, which was formed in December 2020, further accelerates innovation and development of the necessary infrastructure for a nationwide circular economy for plastics.

“Investing in plastic waste value chain experts such as Cyclyx, together with Agilyx and ExxonMobil, helps create the robust supply chains we all need to increase access to circular and renewable feedstocks,” says Yvonne van der Laan, LyondellBasell executive vice president, Circular and Low Carbon Solutions. “This collaboration unlocks the necessary scale of recycled material and infrastructure for our planned integrated Circular and Low Carbon Solutions Hub in the Houston area and aligns with our purpose of creating solutions for everyday sustainable living."

In conjunction with this announcement, Cyclyx is expanding its business model from a strict licensing model to now include a build, own, and operate option for Cyclyx Circularity Centers (CCCs). This business model expansion will enable Cyclyx to control the custody and quality of custom-blended feedstocks from sourcing through delivery. Cyclyx also believes this expanded business model will accelerate the collection of post-use plastics to increase recycling in more communities and businesses nationwide.

Cyclyx will also utilise the Cyclyx Circularity Labs to further expand its chemical characterisation database and leadership position in understanding how to best manage contamination in, and utilisation of, post-use plastics, accelerating progress of the 10to90 mission.

This innovative technology approach identifies plastic type, added ingredients such as metal linings or colouring, ideal manufacturing methods, and contamination to meet the unique specifications of customers, while ensuring the quality of the feedstock and integrity of ISCC PLUS certifications.

Cyclyx adds its expanded model helps further its goals of enhancing its national footprint, accelerating the scale of its feedstock services, and investing in future growth in support of the broader industry.

In other news, US provider of process technology Lummus Technology announced that it has reached an agreement with Air Liquide Engineering & Construction to acquire rights to license and market ester grade acrylic acid technology, and light and heavy acrylates process technology. The addition expands Lummus’ portfolio for propylene production and derivative products, offering customers more options between upstream and downstream operations.

Combining the acrylic acid and acrylates technologies into our portfolio positions Lummus to offer our customers end-to-end solutions, from propane, gas or biomass to high-value polymers and chemicals for consumer and industrial products,” said Leon de Bruyn, President/CEO of Lummus Technology. “Moreover, we can now integrate these technologies into the full chemical value chain, and drive better CAPEX and OPEX solutions, as well as pivot toward circular polymer products to help our customers achieve their investment and sustainability goals.”

Acrylic acid is the central compound that serves as a building block in producing super absorbent polymers, adhesives and numerous coatings.

Ester grade acrylic acid is vital in the synthesis of various acrylate esters, which are crucial components in resins, plastics, rubber and many other everyday goods. The acquired technology converts propylene into ester grade acrylic acid while reducing capital requirements and delivering the industry’s lowest carbon footprint. It has been commercially demonstrated for large-scale acrylic acid production around the world for more than 50 years.

Lummus currently offers propylene production process technologies from bio-derived feedstocks through its Verdene suite. With the addition of these processes, Lummus can address the planning of entire propylene complexes, creating opportunities for integrated product portfolios, while improving project economics and expediting execution schedules, it adds.

(PRA)

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