From: mk_thisisit
Adam Hańderek has developed a technology that converts plastic waste into high-quality fuel suitable for diesel and petrol engines [00:00:06]. This fuel product has physicochemical parameters that allow it to be poured directly into an engine without problems [00:00:14]. The price of this fuel is significantly lower than that of fuel produced from crude oil [00:00:23].
The Technology
The process involves thermolysis or pyrolysis, a method known since 1941 when polyethylene was first subjected to it [00:01:47]. While many companies have worked on similar concepts, Hańderek’s developed technology allows for the direct obtainment of high-quality products that do not require additional technological processing [00:02:05]. This differentiates it from other plastic waste pyrolysis processes, which typically produce raw materials needing further refining [00:07:08]. The invention holds granted patents in the United States, Canada, and the European Union [00:00:34], [00:10:06].
Feedstock Materials
The technology utilizes various types of plastic waste:
- Polyethylene – including plastic bags, bottles for milk, and household chemicals [00:02:30].
- Polypropylene – typically found in hard materials like boxes and packaging [00:02:42].
- Polystyrene – specifically polystyrene removed from old buildings insulated 30-40 years ago [00:02:55].
Economic and Environmental Impact
Producing fuel from plastic waste is much cheaper than from crude oil [00:03:13]. This is because plastic waste has already undergone purification processes (desulfurization, dehydration, distillation) similar to those for crude oil, making them clean materials ready for conversion [00:03:32].
Poland annually produces about 1.5 million tons of plastic waste [00:04:23]. If all plastic waste unsuitable for traditional mechanical recycling could be processed using this method, it could yield 1.5 million cubic meters of fuel [00:04:31]. This volume alone could satisfy at least 5% of Poland’s annual demand for fuel [00:04:56].
New regulations in the European Union, specifically directives RIT 2 and the upcoming RIT 3, equate “coal fuels” produced from plastic waste with biological fuels (like ethanol or biodiesel) [00:05:05]. This will mandate the use of such components in engine fuels, and this technology could meet half of this future demand [00:05:42]. This aligns with economic and ecological benefits of recycling plastics and contributes to combating climate change by reducing reliance on virgin fossil fuels.
Challenges in Commercialization
Despite the innovative nature and potential, the commercialization of this fuel is an expensive process [00:07:45]. There is significant interest from Poland and globally, with letters of intent signed for several dozen installations in countries like Vietnam, Korea, and Japan [00:08:00]. However, building the first commercial industrial installation to demonstrate scalability is crucial [00:08:23].
The project faced setbacks due to dramatic geopolitical changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant increase in the costs of materials and engineering services [00:08:39]. A budget that was initially 48-50 million PLN increased to almost 75 million PLN, rendering previously secured subsidies from the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development unusable [00:08:52]. These are common challenges in commercializing recycling technologies and exemplify economic potential and business challenges in recycling startups.
Currently, an application has been submitted to a European Union accelerator fund, with hopes for investment to build a plant in Poland [00:10:21].
Broader Philosophy and Inspiration
The inventor, Adam Hańderek, is not a titular scientist but drew inspiration from his grandparents’ self-sufficient farm life, where nothing was wasted [00:00:47], [00:26:56]. He also credits his chemistry teacher, Professor Jerzy Waliczek, who emphasized Einstein’s words: “imagination is everything; if you lack imagination, you do not need knowledge because you cannot do anything with it” [00:36:17]. Hańderek believes that knowledge can sometimes limit imagination, and he strives to think outside conventional schemes [00:37:32].
His past work included recycling animal stomach contents and technical blood into feed mixtures [00:28:02]. He holds the belief that everything can potentially be reused, even if economically feasible solutions aren’t always immediately apparent [00:31:43].