Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Plastics, sue to their widespread presence and durability, play an essential role in modern infrastructures, owing to their unique attributes such as chemical resistance,stability, and lightweight characteristics. Nevertheless, the non-biodegradable nature of plastics poses significant challenges for recycling efforts within the industry. The current focus is on devising a process that promotes chemical recycling, leading to the generation of higher-value hydrocarbons, with a preference for naphtha cracker feed, thus fostering circularity in the industry. Aduro Clean Technologies in London, Ontario, operates as a technology solutions company harnessing the unique properties of water to upgrade lower-value feedstock, including renewable oils, waste plastics, rubber, and bitumen, into higher-value petroleum and speciality chemical products. This transformation is achieved cost-effectively and rapidly, yielding significant environmental benefits. Aduro's patented Hydrochemolytic™ (HCT) technology plays a pivotal role in chemically converting lower-value feedstock into lower-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, serving as platfom chemicals and refinery feedstock, including naphtha cracker feed. Currently, Aduro is seeking to partner with Lambton College on a collaborative project to optmize the HCT process fo converting post-industrial and post-consumer waste plastic into cracker feedstock. Leveraging Aduro's proprietary technology, the research will begin with lab-scale testing of cracker feedstock prdocution, followed by 50-liter pilot production scale. The implementation the optimized HCT™ technology will expand Aduro’s processing capabilities and provide valuable data. The company has estimated the creation of 5 new positions in construction and operation of the pilot-scale and up to 20 for the full-scale facility. It has been calculated that the facility will generate $1.5M worth of revenue in the next 3-4 years, with up to $4.5M in revenue through future expansion and growth. The Canadian economy will thrive in job creation and revenue, and the environmental benefits of the project align with the government's commitment to lowering carbon emissions and promoting a low-carbon economy. The proposed pilot-scale and demonstration facility support the reduction of plastic pollution and set new standards for sustainability, improving the plastic industry lifecycle, and lowering overall GHG emissions, landfill waste, and waterway pollution.