- Pilot project recycles complex automotive waste into raw materials using gasification.
- Chemical recycling replaces fossil raw materials with circular automotive waste streams.
- BASF uses synthesis gas from gasification to produce polyurethane for steering wheels.
- Gasification technology converts mixed waste streams into valuable raw materials.
Pilot Project Overview
Porsche, BASF, and BEST have completed a pilot project demonstrating the chemical recycling of mixed waste from end-of-life vehicles. This process converts complex automotive shredder residues into new raw materials, showcasing the potential for circular economy applications in the automotive industry.
Gasification Process
The project utilized gasification, a form of chemical recycling, to process a combined waste stream of automotive waste and biomass. This method replaces fossil raw materials with circular waste streams, producing synthesis gas and its derivatives for new plastic production.
Application and Benefits
The recycled materials were used in manufacturing steering wheels, highlighting the potential to reduce reliance on primary materials and increase recycled content in vehicles. This approach offers a complementary alternative to mechanical recycling, which often struggles with complex waste streams.
Technological Implications
BEST's gasification technology converts mixed waste into valuable raw materials, providing an alternative to waste incineration. BASF integrates these materials into its production network using a mass balance approach, ensuring high-quality outputs suitable for safety-critical automotive components.
