KBR Adds to Green Technology Portfolio with Innovative Plastics Recycling Process
KBR has been making waves with the recent announcement of an alliance agreement with Mura Technology Limited to offer an innovative and advanced Plastics Recycling Technology, Hydro-PRT℠. This technology is an exciting addition to KBR’s broad portfolio of green technologies.
Hydro-PRT is a sustainability-focused technology that recycles end-of-life plastic, such as thin plastic packaging (think plastic shopping bags and food wrap), which would otherwise be combusted, sent to landfills or leaked into the environment. Hydro-PRT converts these mixed plastics into oil that can be further refined to produce virgin polymers and chemicals.
The technology is based on a patented hydrothermal upgrading process which uses supercritical water (water that is heated and pressurized to the point that distinct liquid and gas phases don’t exist) to produce stable hydrocarbon products from a wide range of mixed-plastic waste. The supercritical fluid phase is superior to gases in its ability to dissolve liquids and solids.
Mura has invested $75 million over 10 years in the development of this technology and has proven its performance at a large-scale pilot plant in Australia. Under the terms of the alliance, KBR will be the exclusive licensing partner for Mura Technology and will provide studies, basic engineering, technical services, proprietary equipment and modules for Hydro-PRT to customers around the world.
“We are extremely excited to announce that KBR will offer this technology for license to clients so they can efficiently recycle end-of-life waste plastic and convert it into a reusable feedstock for plastics or other valuable chemicals production. This technology aligns with KBR’s commitment to sustainability by reducing life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and the volume of waste that enters landfills and the environment, while contributing to the growth of the plastic circular economy.”
— Doug Kelly, KBR President, Technology
“We believe that aligning with KBR will make it possible to meet the strong global demand for a superior plastic recycling process. Hydro-PRT offers an innovative, advanced recycling solution to one of the largest global pollution issues we face today, and we look forward to the commercial rollout of our game-changing technology with KBR.”
— Dr. Steve Mahon, CEO, Mura Technology
KBR has been a leader in petrochemical plant design, construction and technology development for more than 50 years.
Mura’s technology is central to its goal for 1 million annual tons of global plastic waste recycling capacity in operation or development by 2025.
