Plasma-based recycling

Modern recycling technology is no longer limited to the mechanical shredding and cleaning of various materials. Complex composite materials require innovative approaches to effectively separate and recycle their individual components. Plastics, biogenic materials and gases are rich in carbon and hydrogen, which makes them particularly valuable in the current hydrogen strategy for sustainably reducing CO₂ emissions. The extraction of hydrogen and industrially relevant carbon material from waste materials is an essential aspect of recycling and contributes to the creation of a resource-efficient, circular economy.

• Development and optimisation of:
  • Processes for generating microwave-controlled plasma
  • Production of sustainable carbon and hydrogen from biogas and biological residues from the food industry
  • Decomposition of difficult-to-recycle materials through specifically controlled plasma processes
  • Individual strategies for avoiding/substituting excessive energy use of petroleum-based materials
• Adaptation of established plasma generators for use in recycling processes in industry
• Process and product optimisation with regard to cost, energy and resource efficiency