May 7, 2021
Others
Started Japan's First Demonstration Study of Waste Plastic Recycling including Mixed waste Plastics at Chiba Complex. - Construct a waste plastics recycling system by new liquefaction technology and our petroleum refining & petrochemical plants -
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Shunichi Kito; hereinafter "Idemitsu") agreed with Environment Energy Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima; Representative Director: Shuji Noda; hereinafter Environment Energy) on demonstration study of waste plastics recycling project at Chiba Complex of Idemitsu (location: Ichihara-shi, Chiba; General Manager: Shinji Araki). This demonstration is based on the waste plastics liquefaction technology of Environment Energy and petroleum refining/petrochemical plant of Chiba Complex to achieve the recycling of mixed waste plastics, of which recycle was difficult to be reproduced with existing technologies, and we will promote the construction of the nation's first waste plastics recycling system aimed at the recycling of waste plastics of 15,000 ton a year.
Waste plastic recycle chain we aim at by demonstration
- HiCOP technology: Catalytic cracking method, which is patented technology invented by Kaoru Fujimoto, the head of HiBD Research Institute (emeritus professor of the University of Tokyo and the University of Kitakyushu)
Idemitsu group and Environment Energy have been collaborating on the development of waste plastics liquefaction technology since FY2019 as the project of the "Carbon dioxide emission control measures project cost subsidy" by the Ministry of the Environment. For this demonstration study the plastic liquefaction plant (HiCOP method) of Environment Energy will be constructed in Chiba Complex of Idemitsu, and liquified waste plastics is refined, decomposed, and recomposed by the refining/petrochemical facilities of Idemitsu to recycle them as new plastics, which is the nation's first demonstration of this kind. We have a plan to expand this method to our refinery group.
In recent years, the importance of further promotion of resource circulation of plastics and its social needs have been increasing, such as the Cabinet decision on the Bill for the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics (March 9th) in addition to the promotion of the efforts on the issue of marine plastic waste and climate change, tightening of waste import regulations in foreign countries, etc. Meanwhile, the proportion of the utilization of waste plastics to recycled items is under 30% of waste plastics of about 9,000,000 ton/year, and more than 50% of waste plastics are converted into fuel as thermal recycling because of the difficulty of chemical recycling. In such a situation, non-conventional innovative recycling technology is required in order to meet the increasing needs.
Idemitsu has consistently engaged in processes from crude oil refining to plastics production. We take advantage of our strength to realize the advanced recycling system, and we will proactively contribute to build the global low-carbon society.
■Outline of demonstration
- Location: Chiba Complex, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
- Details:1. Environment Energy liquefies waste plastic by HiCOP process. Idemitsu re-purifies mixed produced oil and resynthesizes into new plastics.2. Our target is the recycling of mixed waste plastics, of which recycling was difficult by the conventional technology.
■Role of each company
- Environment Energy (project promotor):
Development of liquefaction technology and equipment - Idemitsu Kosan (project co-operator):
Land rental to Environment Energy in Chiba Complex, taking-over /re-purifying of mixed produced oil
Regarding news release
contact information
Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. Public Relations Department, Public Relations Division