Tie-ups: Technip/Versalis to integrate recycling technologies; FRX/Lanxess to focus on flame retardant development

Engineering firm Technip Energies and Versalis, Eni's Italian chemical company, have signed an agreement aimed at integrating Versalis' Hoop and Technip Energies' Pure.rOil and Pure.rGas purification technologies by developing a technological platform for the advanced chemical recycling of plastic waste.

This project aims to create a theoretically endless plastic recycling loop, producing new virgin polymers suitable for all applications and that are identical to polymers that come from fossil raw materials.

Versalis will bring its Hoop technology, a pyrolysis process that enables the recovery of mixed plastic waste with high performance in term of yield, recovery and flexibility in managing different types of feedstocks.

Technip Energies will bring its ethylene furnace and steam cracker design expertise, with more than 700 steam crackers worldwide operating under its own licence, along with the preparation and its proprietary purification technologies, Pure.rGas and Pure.rOil, which ensure safe, reliable and optimized integration with both existing and new crackers.

The integrated technologies by Versalis and T.EN will contribute to supporting a circular economy by reducing the overall carbon footprint in the polymer value chain.

Marco Villa, COO of Technip Energies, stated: “We are pleased to join forces with Versalis to bring our combined technologies for plastic waste recycling to commercialisation. This alliance will help strengthen Versalis’ and T.EN’s leadership in the transformation of traditional basic chemicals and polymers into sustainable, decarbonized products and facilitate the transition to the circular economy.”

Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, stated: “We believe the partnership model is a very effective accelerator for growth, turning synergies into the strength we need to make our industry more and more sustainable. This partnership with Technip Energies, which combines the two companies’ innovative technologies in chemical recycling and significant industrial experience, will allow us to accelerate the deployment of concrete and effective solutions to tackle plastic waste, to be applied wherever needed worldwide.”

In other news, German specialty chemicals company Lanxess, one of the largest flame retardant producers, and FRX Innovations, a producer of flame-retardant additives, have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding covering:

1. the evaluation of a contract manufacturing, by Lanxess, of a family of FRX patented Nofia products,
2. the potential production by Lanxess, of an FRX patented raw material necessary for the production of Nofia flame retardants,
3. the exploration of potential marketing by Lanxess of Nofia flame retardants in specific sectors and/or geographies.

“Being a unique polymeric, sustainable flame-retardant solution, the Nofia range fits perfectly with Lanxess’s existing phosphorus flame retardant portfolio and long-term strategy of sustainable flame-retardant solutions,” said Karsten Job, Managing Director of Lanxess’ Polymer Additives business unit.

“This relationship with Lanxess is a definitive step in the growth of our Nofia business,” said Marc Lebel, CEO of FRX Innovations. “As a direct consequence of recently passed legislation, market dynamics have changed significantly, causing Nofia products to be pulled into large new application areas.”

(PRA)

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