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, a Canadian company known for its microwave catalysis process for reprocessing polystyrene, has announced a technology for nanopurification of waste plastic. The solution enables pretreatment to purify plastic waste that can then be used in advanced recycling methods that are sensitive to contaminants. The purified output can also be used as-is for some applications.

Contaminants and additives that can be removed include heavy metals, inorganic pigments, halogens and flame retardants. One of the limiting factors in the scale-up of plastic recycling is the inability to secure feedstock compatible with the level of purity required in end applications, and the presence of contaminants in plastic waste and pyrolysis oil has been part of this challenge.

Inspired by pharmaceutical technologies, Pyrowave’s processes separate additives from polymer molecules on the basis of size and solubility using nanofiltration membranes. Its advantage over conventional methods, according to Pyrowave, lies in being able to sort out many contaminants simultaneously.

The new process is powered by electricity. Compared with virgin resin production, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 95%.