Projects｜Microwave-based Chemical Recycling Technology Platform

List of Milestones by Type of Plastic

Our initial target is 10,000 ton per year and we are aiming for social implementation in collaboration with chemical manufacturers and other stakeholders.

	Domestic Production （1000t）	Initiative
	Domestic Production （1000t）	Lab-scale verification	Bench-scale verification	Pilot-scale verification	Social implementation	Joint Development (already published)
Polypropylene	2,463	○	○	○		○
Polyethylene	2,452	○	○	○		○
Vinyl Chloride Resin	1,625	○
Polystyrene	1,202	○	○	○
PET	354	○
Phenolic Resin	296
Polycarbonate	281	○
Polyamide	230	○				○
Polyvinyl Alcohol	199
Polyurethane	178	○	○			○
Methacrylic Resin	139	○	○	○		○
Other Resins	1,035	○
Total	12,328

List of plastic types with their respective milestones and domestic production volume in Japan as of April 2023:

Scale-up Roadmap

In the fiscal year 2021, small-scale demonstration was commenced, followed by large-scale demonstration in the fiscal year 2022. Further scaling up will be pursued, aiming for the social implementation of the first unit by the fiscal year 2024.

Roadmap for Small-scale Distributed Model

Based on the accumulated foundational technology, we will improve the oilization process and aim to complete the first unit of the small-scale equipment by 2024. Concurrently, we will pursue business development and officially launch the small-scale distributed business from 2025.

Project List

PMMA

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Mitsubishi Chemical and MWCC have constructed a demonstration plant at MWCC's Osaka facility to advance the pilot tests for the commercialization of PMMA (acrylic resin) chemical recycling in June 2021. We plan to introduce a commercial plant at Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation's plant in the fiscal year 2024.
ASR、SMC

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

Since the fiscal year 2021, Mitsui Chemicals and MWCC have been working on the practical application of a chemical recycling technology that uses microwave technology and enables to turn waste plastics directly into raw material monomers.. The target feedstock is mixed plastics that were previously difficult to recycle, such as ASR (Automobile Shredder Residue) and SMC (Sheet Molding Compound) used in bathtubs and automotive parts.
Flexible polyurethane foam

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

Mitsui Chemicals and MWCC have launched a new initiative aiming to commercialize chemical recycling of flexible polyurethane foam using microwave technology. The project involves directly producing raw materials by decomposing offcuts of the foam used to manufacture mattresses and the like.
Recycled plastic containers and packaging

Resonac

Resonac and MWCC have started joint development of a new microwave-based chemical recycling technology to directly transform used plastic into basic chemical feedstock. The two companies are implementing various steps to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and aim to commercialize the new technology.
We aim to develop a technology that decomposes used plastic containers and packaging by irradiating microwave, thereby producing basic chemical feedstock such as ethylene and propylene.
(The company name of the transition destination is listed as Resonac's former company name, Showa Denko.)
Demonstration of
small-scale distributed system

Seven-Eleven Japan

Seven-Eleven Japan and MWCC have applied for and been awarded the "FY2022 Carbon Neutral Technology Development and Demonstration Project Subsidy" in Osaka Prefecture. In this project, we will conduct demonstration for the construction of a small distributed system of chemical recycling. The aim is to promote the widespread adoption of small-scale, high-efficiency recycling devices in the local community, thereby establishing an efficient system for resource reutilization in close proximity to the source of waste plastics.
Polyamide 66

Asahi Kasei

Asahi Kasei and MWCC launched a joint demonstration project in April 2023 with the objective of commercializing a chemical recycling process for polyamide 66 (PA66, also called nylon 66) using microwave technology. The process utilizes microwaves to depolymerize PA66 and directly obtain the monomers hexamethylenediamine (HMD) and adipic acid (ADA), which is expected to be accomplished at high yield with low energy consumption. The monomers obtained can then be used to manufacture new PA66. In the demonstration, scraps from manufacturing and post-use waste material of PA66 for airbags and automobile parts are depolymerized.