Page 31 - Packaging New magazine Jan-Feb 2023

Licella’s Cat-HTR plant receives development licence
Global hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) specialist Licella, via Advanced Recycling Victoria, has had its development licence approved, giving it the green light to construct its advanced commercial recycling plant in Altona, Victoria.
THE FACILITY WILL incorporate Licella’s Cat-HTR (catalytic hydrother- mal reactor) technology, which is a powerful decarbonation platform for pro- ducing high value, low carbon products, such as renewable fuels and biochemicals.
While older thermal upgrading technologies, such as pyrolysis and gasification, were developed in a less carbon-constrained world, the Cat-HTR has been developed to retain as much carbon in its products as possible.
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria approved the applica- tion for the development licence, which is subject to conditions, by Advanced Recycling Victoria after several months of consideration and consultation.
It assessed the application against all requirements – focusing on the technol- ogy, air, noise, water and human health – and proposed it to be undertaken in a way that meets environmental standards.
EPA Victoria determined that risks of harm to human health and the environ- ment are adequately managed.
Air emissions were modelled based on emissions estimates from a pilot plant, and the applicant also under- took a human health risk assessment based on conservative emission rates, which concluded the risk to be very low to human health.
Initially, the proposed facility will process 20,000 tonnes per annum of
Above: Advanced recycling has lift off: Render of ARV’s Stage 1 Cat-HTR advanced recycling facility in Altona.
plastic, producing 17,000 tonnes of oil, reducing the need for virgin oil, and long-term, after planned expansions of capacity, will result in the production of nearly 100,000 tonnes of recycled food- grade plastics per year.
With over $100 million invested over 13 years, Licella’s Cat-HTR technol- ogy is already commercial-ready, and has been tested for its efficiency across a wide range of feedstocks, including mixed end-of-life plastics.
In a recent development (see News, p8), Amcor has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Licella Holdings, which sees the packaging solutions giant invest in one of Australia’s first plastic advanced recycling facilities. ■
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