The Process

Catalytic depolymerisation has the ability to efficiently convert a variety of feedstocks, such as construction and industrial waste, plastics or coal, into high-quality renewable diesel which can be used in both the transport sector or for energy generation.

Catalytic depolymerisation is particularly relevant to addressing Australia’s growing waste and recycling burden, representing a net economically beneficial solution for local governments, public authorities, energy providers and remote communities. Catalytic depolymerisation will help a broad range of organisations realise improved economic value, environmental outcomes, energy security and social value.

This renewable diesel can be used in transportation and vehicle fleets as well as to generate power when coupled with diesel-powered generating plants. Research and development efforts have focused on delivering production levels that provide commercially viable and competitive returns to investors, providing a point of differentiation in the WTE market. 

Accordingly, the CDP technology has progressed significantly towards being able to offer a Process Guarantee that ensures continuous and appropriate commercial production levels and diesel quality for the type of feedstock.

Four Main Benefits of CDP-WTE technology

1. Wide variety of waste 

With further testing, it is expected that the technology will be able to process a mix of waste feedstock, including:

• Biomass such as paper, cellulose, fats, wood and organic squeezing residues; and
• Fossil fuel derived materials e.g. coal, plastics, oils, bitumen

Eventually, the waste streams could include:

• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste
• All kinds of plastics and synthetics (PP, PET etc.)
• Biomass (waste plant material), wood, bioderived residues like leaves, straw
• Animal waste
• Coal, crude oil, bitumen, old tyres and refinery residues
• Waste oil, fat and biosolids

2. Environmentally sound management of waste

In comparison to other waste to fuel processes the CDP process is a reaction process that occurs at relatively low temperature and low pressure, complementing the low temperature, low-pressure approach of the Coldry process:

• Low temperature and low-pressure conditions are a proxy for lower opex and capex and avoid the production of toxic substances such as dioxin;
• The process does not consume any water, reducing the impact on the environment and community, unlike other technologies such as gasification and supercritical processes, and;
• A lower carbon footprint due to a relatively low reaction temperature (~ 280°C) unlike other upgrading technologies such as pyrolysis (>500°C) and gasification (>700°C).

3. Diesel offtake

The high-quality diesel produced through the CDP process not only meets AS3570, but can provide the following benefits: •not strongly acidic like pyrolysis oils; •reduced costs per litre; •diesel can be used to power generators for remote communities; and, •reduced emissions.

Diesel offtake volumes could be met through a combination of fuel supply agreements to local independent fuel retailers and bulk supply agents and direct supply to the waste management company and logistics transport fleets.

4. Scalable technology

Local governments and other regional waste management operations are required to manage waste environmentally, socially and economically for their customers. 

The CDP process is scalable and could be based on the CDP1500 module size, a 1,500 litre per hour renewable diesel unit. A project comprised of three CDP1500 plants could deliver an aggregate of 4500L of diesel per hour from 115,000 tonnes of waste per annum.