What is the name of your organization?
AC Biode
What is the name of your solution?
Plastalyst
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Plastalyst recycles organic waste and plastic waste into chemicals such as monomers, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methanol.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Luxembourg
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
LUX
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
The chemical industry faces significant challenges in decarbonization due to its reliance on carbon-rich raw materials and high-temperature processes.
Key challenges include:
- Emissions Contribution: The chemical sector accounts for about 5% of global CO2 emissions.
- Energy Intensity: Steam cracking alone represents 10-15% of the sector's greenhouse gas footprint.
- Complexity: Decarbonization requires addressing Scope 3 emissions, which are indirectly controlled and more challenging to influence.
What is your solution?
Hydrogen and carbon monoxide, collectively known as syngas, serve as invaluable sources for the production of synthetic fuels like methanol and ammonia, offering versatile solutions in the quest for sustainable energy. Hydrogen stands as a promising future source of energy, offering a clean and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Its versatility extends to multiple sectors, from transportation to industrial processes and energy storage. With the potential to be derived from a variety of resources including biomass, natural gas, and coal, syngas serves as a bridge between renewable and conventional energy sources. Methanol, a key derivative of syngas, holds promise as a clean-burning alternative fuel for transportation. Plastalyst is revolutionizing the clean energy industry by enabling clean fuel production from waste.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
For those companies that struggle to recycle their waste,
Plastalyst recycles organic waste and plastic waste into chemicals such as monomers, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methanol.
Organic waste is decomposed into alcohols and syngas, whereas plastic is decomposed into methanol, alkanes or monomers. It uses only water, waste, and a reusable catalyst as input. The reaction occurred at a temperature of only 200°C. Compared to other methods, our method has significant advantages such as low energy use, which results in lower operational cost. Next, we use water as a solvent, drying of waste is not needed, therefore it will cut the cost of preparing the material. Lastly, no solvent is needed and no CO2 is emitted in the reaction. Unlike organic methods, such as biodigestion that require a lot of time and emit a lot of CO2, Plastalyst is a fast chemical method that emits no CO2.