BioCellection – Chemical Recycling

BioCellection is an advanced recycling technology company based in California. Globally, only 9% of plastics are recycled.  The remaining 91% goes to landfills, incinerators, or ends up in the ocean because of poor waste management practices.  There is a huge gap in the market for a company that could close the “plastic life cycle” by turning dirty plastics into virgin materials.

 

A Novel Chemical Route

Polyethylene is an abundant plastic commonly found in plastic bags and many consumables such as shampoo bottles. However, even though this is the most produced plastic globally at over 100 million metric tons a year.  There is no recycling market for this material. BioCellection is confronting this issue by creating recycling avenues for these waste plastics that don’t have markets. By inventing a new chemical process to tackle plastic waste. The chemical reaction starts with the breaking down of waste polyethylene from long-chain polymers to short-chain chemical compounds. The purified short-chain chemicals are the building blocks for higher value materials. These materials can make polyurethane and nylon.

Potential Markets

Everything from the soles of shoes to various parts for cars. There are also many biodegradable applications, for example, absorbent polymers that can go into making hygiene products and nappies (diapers).

Through the conversion of the cheapest plastic which does not have a feasible route for recycling into higher value building blocks. BioCellection’s advanced recycling methods would be an industry leader with the potential to rectify a worldwide crisis.

Edit on 16/02/2021: – Biocellection was rebranded as Novoloop in 2020.

Feature Image:

Synthetic organic chemistry fumehood
Synthesis. Image: Maximilian Paradiz | (CC BY 2.0) | Flickr

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