Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OpenLOOP (OpenLOOP recycling technology - sustainable and profitable solution to the management of PET/cellulose waste)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-04-01 do 2024-03-31
OpenLOOP is delivering a novel chemical recycling technology for textile and packaging waste that can be used to degrade any mixture and blend of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic and CELLULOSE waste. As a final output yields high-value feedstock: 5-HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural), LA (Levulinic acid) and rTA (recycled Terephthalic Acid).
In the OpenLOOP project we are optimizing the technology and integrating it into industrial environment – IOS’s DEMO plant. We are automating the procedures to make them safe and simple to operate, validating processes, equipment and end products aiming to deliver optimal productivity, design commercial packages and develop the supply chain.
In the OpenLOOP project we are optimizing the technology and integrating it into industrial environment – IOS’s DEMO plant. We are automating the procedures to make them safe and simple to operate, validating processes, equipment and end products aiming to deliver optimal productivity, design commercial packages and develop the supply chain.
In the inaugural year of the OpenLOOP project, we successfully optimized and automated several processes. Building on our pre-established recycling procedures, we concentrated our efforts on enhancing pre-treatment methods to eliminate dyes and auxiliaries. We also developed robust post-treatment processes that now consistently deliver high-quality outputs, including rTA with a purity of at least 97% and 5HMF at 99%. While some challenges remain with LA separation techniques, as well as scaling up to the next level of industrialization, our team is actively addressing these issues.
Our skilled team of experts, researchers, and engineers has delved into every critical aspect of the pre-treatment, recycling, and post-treatment processes. They have also played integral roles in the development and acquisition of new equipment during this first year. Over the next six months, we plan to add two more reactors, custom-designed to enhance the efficiency of the OpenLOOP recycling line, facilitating easier operation and scalability.
Our skilled team of experts, researchers, and engineers has delved into every critical aspect of the pre-treatment, recycling, and post-treatment processes. They have also played integral roles in the development and acquisition of new equipment during this first year. Over the next six months, we plan to add two more reactors, custom-designed to enhance the efficiency of the OpenLOOP recycling line, facilitating easier operation and scalability.
Our engagement with investors has been vigorous, and we have actively promoted the OpenLOOP project at workshops, conferences, and meetings. We have also introduced OpenLOOP to the Slovenian audience interested in European Innovation Council (EIC) initiatives on multiple occasions.
We are pleased to announce our first letter of intent with Slovenian waste collection company. They are committed to investing in our technology by constructing the first industrialization facility. Preparations are underway to secure the necessary permits for this development.
We are also keeping our partners, who have expressed interest in the phase of the OpenLOOP proposal and may be potential buyers or investors already from the beginning of the project, informed about our progress. For that purpose several NDAs were signed.
We aim to industrialize OpenLOOP by 2026-2028, depending on the time required to obtain all necessary permits. Meanwhile, we continue to work on optimizing/automatization of our processes to ensure the competitive market pricing of our secondary raw materials. Market analysis indicates a readiness to pay higher prices for non-fossil-based secondary materials compared to traditional primary materials, reflecting a growing market trend towards sustainable raw materials.
We are pleased to announce our first letter of intent with Slovenian waste collection company. They are committed to investing in our technology by constructing the first industrialization facility. Preparations are underway to secure the necessary permits for this development.
We are also keeping our partners, who have expressed interest in the phase of the OpenLOOP proposal and may be potential buyers or investors already from the beginning of the project, informed about our progress. For that purpose several NDAs were signed.
We aim to industrialize OpenLOOP by 2026-2028, depending on the time required to obtain all necessary permits. Meanwhile, we continue to work on optimizing/automatization of our processes to ensure the competitive market pricing of our secondary raw materials. Market analysis indicates a readiness to pay higher prices for non-fossil-based secondary materials compared to traditional primary materials, reflecting a growing market trend towards sustainable raw materials.