California-based Resynergi has secured $6.4 million in series-B funding to scale up its modular continuous microwave assisted pyrolysis (CMAP) technology.
The company claims its technology converts HDPE, LDPE, PP, and PS waste plastics into pyrolysis oil at a rate 20 times fast than standard pyrolysis methods.
The funding round was co-led by Transitions First (T1ST), a venture capital fund, and Lummus Technology, which is the proprietary of its own pyrolysis technology.
The technology’s modular design allows for rapid deployment and scalability, reportedly making chemical recycling more affordable and versatile. The modules are placed on a skid and can be scaled horizontally, purportedly shortening the plant’s deployment and start-up to weeks rather than years. The pyrolysis reactor is said to have a 10 times smaller footprint than standard reactors, where polymer molecules are broken down 100 times faster with the use of microwave energy. Microwave assisted technology reportedly leads to carbon emission reduction of up to 68% compared with standard pyrolysis.
Resynergi operates a demo plant in Santa Rosa, California, with a 1-ton CMAP reactor unit which converts 1.25 tons of both post-industrial and post-consumer plastic waste per day. By placing four CMAP reactor units on a skid, Resynergi plans to convert 5 tons per day and scale production of its reactor units-on-a-skid model across the US. Four CMAP reactors easily fit into a single 40 ft x 8 ft (12 m x 2 m) shipping container skid, according to the company.
"In many cities, it's economically challenging to collect more than 50 tons of plastic waste per day," said Leon de Bruyn, president and Chief Executive Officer at Lummus Technology. "Our technology is highly efficient within the 20 to 50 tons per day processing window, making it a game-changer for communities."
Following the investment, Bruyn and Marianne Abib-Pech, Managing Partner, T1ST and former Global CFO of Shell Aviation, are joining the Resynergi’s board of directors.
