Transforming plastic waste into high-value base oils
About this episode
The episode discusses a breakthrough method for transforming plastic waste into high-value base oils with Robert Kennedy of Aeternal Upcycling.
In Episode 48 of F+L Webcast, Vicky Denton sits down with Robert Kennedy, co-founder of Aeternal Upcycling, to discuss a breakthrough approach to tackling plastic waste — and turning it into a valuable resource for the lubricants industry.Kennedy’s journey began at Argonne National Laboratory, where he focused on chemical conversions that transform plastic waste into high-demand petrochemical replacements. In 2022, he and his co-founder launched Aeternal Upcycling, supported by a U.S. Department of Energy fellowship aimed at translating lab-scale science into commercial reality.Unlike conventional pyrolysis processes — which typically produce low-value naphtha for refinery co-processing — Aeternal’s method uses hydrogenolysis. This catalytic process operates at lower temperatures but higher pressures, leveraging hydrogen to break plastics into high-purity paraffinic base oils and waxes. The result? Up to 99% selectivity for lube oil range products and yields exceeding 70% — potentially matching the economics of virgin base oil production.Aeternal’s focus on polyethylene and polypropylene — which make up about 60% of global plastic waste — positions the company to address a major…
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