INEOS Styrolution, one of the leading global companies in styrenics, will be contributing to the Remove2Reclaim research project alongside leading European research institutes to build expertise in recycling via dissolution.

“Working together with leading European research institutes in the project will allow the company to build up expertise related to recycling via dissolution,” a statement said.

Styrenics are amongst the most recyclable polymers. INEOS has a proven record of investing into basic research on advanced recycling technologies. This includes completing the first lab-scale production of virgin polystyrene (PS) from depolymerised material and driving the commercialisation of enhanced recycling of polystyrene forward. Developing expertise in recycling via dissolution contributes to an in-depth understanding of the material’s properties.

The Remove2Reclaim project aims at developing innovative solvent-based extraction routes to remove additives, such as titanium dioxide, from different polymer matrices and to reuse both titanium dioxide and polymer in new products. Targeted polymers in the project include polystyrene, HIPS and ABS. For INEOS Styrolution, this dissolution route complements the existing mechanical and depolymerisation recycling projects, rounding up the understanding of the broad range of recycling technologies available for styrenics.

“Our main thrust is the mechanical recycling of materials such as ABS and polystyrene and advanced recycling technologies, primarily depolymerisation of polystyrene. The Remove2Reclaim project gives us the opportunity to get a complete picture by exploring additional recycling technologies such as dissolution. In parallel, we are optimising our mechanical recycling efforts and concentrating on commercialising recycled polystyrene via depolymerisation,” Michiel Verswyvel, Global R&D at INEOS Styrolution, said.