Aduro Clean Technologies Revolutionizes Plastic Recycling with Hydrochemolytic Reactor: A Promising Solution for the Global Plastic Waste Crisis

Aduro Clean Technologies Revolutionizes Plastic Recycling with Hydrochemolytic Reactor: A Promising Solution for the Global Plastic Waste Crisis
Image credit: IEEE Spectrum 

Aduro Clean Technologies, an Ontario-based company, is making waves in the recycling industry with its groundbreaking hydrochemolytic reactor. This innovative technology is set to revolutionize plastic recycling by converting stubborn and contaminated polymer mixtures into new plastic materials, offering a promising alternative to traditional chemical and mechanical recycling methods.

How the Hydrochemolytic Reactor Works

Aduro’s continuous flow reactor operates using a water-based process under mild conditions, which significantly reduces energy consumption and minimizes losses. The process starts by feeding shredded plastic into an electric-powered extruder, where friction pushes the plastic forward, and water is added. The reactor gradually increases the temperature to convert the feedstock into liquid hydrocarbons that can be reused in consumer and industrial products. This method, which operates at a relatively mild 350 °C, contrasts sharply with the higher temperatures required in traditional pyrolysis, offering superior yields and product purity.

Aduro hydrochemolytic reactor for plastic recycling 
Image credit: IEEE Spectrum 

Industry Interest and Future Prospects

Aduro’s innovative approach has attracted the attention of some of the world’s largest petrochemical firms, including Shell and TotalEnergies, which have provided funding and technical support. The company has secured eight patents, with another pending, and is publicly traded in Canada with a market cap of $103 million. Currently in the pre-revenue stage, Aduro plans to operate on a licensing business model, customizing its modular system for specific locations based on waste streams.

The company is also collaborating with Canada-based Prospera Energy on a bitumen upgrading project, further showcasing the versatility of its technology. As Aduro prepares to run semi-industrial-scale trials to finalize the reactor’s configurations, ongoing development will include front-end preprocessing and back-end postprocessing requirements.

Origins and Evolution of Aduro's Technology

Aduro’s journey began in 2011 with a focus on upgrading heavy crude oil by-products. Initial experiments on bitumen and other oils revealed opportunities to improve petroleum processing by using cleaner and readily available hydrogen equivalents derived from biomass, such as glycerol. This concept was later applied to plastic deconstruction, leading to the development of the hydrochemolytic reactor.

The technology has demonstrated strong potential, with initial tests showing that up to 95 percent of mechanically recycled polypropylene can be converted into hydrocarbons for new plastics or chemicals, with minimal losses to methane and carbon dioxide. This makes Aduro’s approach a promising alternative to traditional recycling methods, particularly for handling mixed and contaminated plastics.

The Growing Global Plastic Waste Crisis

The world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, a figure that exceeds the entire human population’s weight. With global plastic production doubling over the past two decades, waste generation is projected to nearly triple by 2060. Unfortunately, the majority of plastic waste ends up in pollution-ridden landfills and incinerators, with only a small fraction being recycled or reused.

Traditional recycling methods, such as mechanical recycling and chemical pyrolysis, have significant limitations. Mechanical recycling often results in lower-quality materials with a limited number of cycles, while chemical methods are costly, energy-intensive, and produce harmful emissions. Aduro’s hydrochemolytic process offers a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative, addressing many of these challenges.

Expert Opinions and Industry Comparisons

George Huber, a chemical engineering professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, compares Aduro’s approach to hydrothermal liquefaction, where water breaks down plastics into oil that can be upgraded into new plastics through conventional chemical processes. Huber notes that Aduro’s method offers a superior alternative to mechanical recycling, particularly for mixed-polymer or contaminated feedstocks.

Other companies, such as U.K.-based Mura Technology, are also developing similar solutions. Mura’s Hydro-PRT plastic recycling technology can handle mixed-plastic and contaminated waste streams, with the company’s first commercial-scale site set to open in northeast England this year. However, Aduro’s hydrochemolytic process stands out for its lower operating temperature and higher yield, making it a promising candidate for widespread adoption.

Conclusion: A New Era in Plastic Recycling

As the global plastic waste crisis intensifies, innovative solutions like Aduro’s hydrochemolytic reactor offer hope for a more sustainable future. By converting hard-to-recycle plastics into valuable hydrocarbons, Aduro’s technology has the potential to transform the recycling industry, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to a circular economy. As the company continues to refine its process and expand its market reach, Aduro is poised to play a leading role in addressing one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.