Neocle Recycle starts up continuous BHET-based PET chemical recycling line
Chinese recycler Neocle Recycle has commissioned what it describes as the first continuous BHET-based chemical recycling line for PET, with Phase I capacity of 5,000 tonnes a year of recycled polyester chips. The company plans a Phase II of a further 5,000 tonnes a year, with a near-term target of 10,000-20,000 tonnes and a long-term goal of 50,000 tonnes, and intends to extend its separation technology to nylon, spandex and waste cotton.
Why this mattersIf it scales beyond 5,000 tonnes a year, continuous BHET depolymerisation would add chemically recycled PET supply, mainly from textile waste, with a shorter process and lower energy use.
- Neocle Recycle Technology (Zhenjiang) commissioned its first continuous-BHET chemical recycling PET line
- Phase I annual capacity is 5,000 tonnes of recycled polyester chips
- Phase II is planned for a further 5,000 tonnes a year
- Near-term capacity target is 10,000-20,000 tonnes a year, long-term target 50,000 tonnes a year
- The process is described as the company's self-developed world-first continuous BHET-based chemical process
- The company plans to extend its separation technology to nylon, spandex and waste cotton feedstocks