UK opening for ICI/Mitsubishi recycling technology
15 Jan 2000
ICI and Mitsubishi have chosen a UKsite for the first plant to test out their technology for recycling acrylic resin. The plant, with a capacity of 3000 5000 tpa, will be at Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire.
The technology was jointly developed by the two companies, and the plant will be operated by the joint venture, ICI/Mitsubishi Rayon. It uses waste polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as a feedstock, which is ground up and heated to depolymerise it. The MMA vapour is recovered by distillation. The companies developed a new type of depolymerisation reactor for the process, which holds the temperature at 550-600 degrees C, ensuring rapid heat transfer into the polymer.
