SOLUTION

SUSTAINABILITY

LOCATIONS

NEWS

ABOUT US

RESOURCES

HEAD OFFICE

Mura Technology Limited
LDN:W Level 4
3 Noble Street
London
EC2V 7EE

 

General:
enquiries@muratechnology.com

Media:
media@muratechnology.com

SOCIAL

Let's Talk

GET IN TOUCH
MEDIA ENQUIRIES

To keep up to date with our global roll-out and developments, please complete your details below:

Please check our privacy policy before you confirm your subscription.
Resources Contact Us

ABOUT

LOCATIONS  

Background Image
THE NEXT GENERATION OF ADVANCED PLASTIC RECYCLING

HYDRO-PRT

Hydro-PRT® is a unique, internationally recognised, protected and validated hydrothermal advanced recycling process which uses supercritical water to crack post-consumer, multi-layered flexible and rigid mixed plastic waste into industry-ready, circular hydrocarbon feedstocks.

Background Image
HYDRO-PRT

HYDROTHERMAL PLASTIC RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY

Hydro-PRT is differentiated from other technologies in the sector by its use of supercritical water – water brought to a state of increased temperature and pressure until it exceeds its critical point, where it exhibits both the properties of liquids and gases.

Using supercritical water (SCW) in this way brings numerous benefits when treating plastic waste streams:

  • A broader scope for recycling all types of plastic, including flexible and rigid multi-layered materials, currently considered ‘unrecyclable’ via existing recycling processes
  • Highly efficient heat transfer – during the process, the supercritical water surrounds the plastic rather than heating from an external source, making scale-up a simple process
  • A source of hydrogen to saturate broken chemical chains, with hydrogen transferring into the end products
  • Insensitive to organic contaminants such as paper labels, cardboard and food residue
  • Suppresses unwanted side reactions during the process – put simply, water ‘calms’ cracking reactions

THE HYDRO-PRT PROCESS

Watch how Mura converts post-consumer, flexible and rigid mixed waste streams into fossil-replacement hydrocarbons, for use in the manufacture of new plastics:

HYDRO-PRT PROCESS STEPS

1

Waste Plastic Preparation

Background Image

The process begins by preparing the plastic. The feedstock is shredded and contaminants such as glass, stones, metals and non-target plastics are removed

2

Melt + Pressurisation

Background Image

The shredded plastic mix is then melted and pressurised via an extruder

3

Supercritical Water

Background Image

The supercritical water is mixed with the plastic

4

Heat

Background Image

The mix is further heated

5

Hydro-PRT Reactor

Background Image

In the reactor, the plastics are broken down into liquid hydrocarbons and gas. This conversion takes as little as 30 minutes

6

Depressurise

Background Image

Following conversion, pressure is released. Energy recovered in this process is used in the next stage - product separation

7

Product Separation

Background Image

Products are separated into individual fractions for storage and onward sale to customers

8

Product Upgrading (Process Bolt-On)

Background Image

Mura and Engineering Partner KBR are currently developing upgrading integration into the existing Hydro-PRT design

9

Product Storage

Background Image

The products are stored before shipping to petrochemical customers, for use in the manufacture of new plastics and other products.

KEY ADVANTAGES OF HYDRO-PRT

Hydro-PRT, a hydrothermal process, differs from traditional pyrolysis due to its use of supercritical water, which 'cracks' the carbon bonds in plastic, providing significant benefits.

1 2 3
SCALABILITY

Direct contact between plastic and supercritical water leads to highly efficient heat transfer, making modular scale-up a simple process. Mura developing both 20kt and 50kt reactors, which can be deployed as multiples.

PLASTIC SCOPE

Hydro-PRT creates a broader scope for recyclable plastics, able to process post-use, multi-layered and mixed plastics, such as flexible and rigid food packaging. Hydro-PRT is complementary to traditional mechanical recycling.

HIGH YIELDS

Due to its use of water, Hydro-PRT does not produce char or unwanted by-products, creating high yields of valuable hydrocarbon feedstocks for use in the manufacture of virgin-quality, recycled plastics – with no need to pre-dry feedstock

Background Image
A WIDER SCOPE FOR RECYCLING TARGET FEEDSTOCK

Mura’s Target feedstock includes the flexible, multi-layered materials that cannot be processed via traditional mechanical means, such as flexible films and multi-layered plastics, that would otherwise be sent to incineration or landfill.

Background Image
A WIDER SCOPE FOR RECYCLING TYPE & SOURCE

Target feedstocks for Hydro-PRT are polyolefins, including LDPE, HDPE and PP, alongside other plastic types 1 – 7 (PET, PS, ABS and polyamides). Feedstocks can be sourced from end-of-life, post-consumer plastics, MRF and agricultural residual material.

Background Image
A WIDER SCOPE FOR RECYCLING ADVANTAGES

Hydro-PRT processes post-use, mixed plastic streams without segregation, complementing existing mechanical recycling processes.

MURA IN THE PLASTIC VALUE CHAIN

Resin Producers

Use of Mura’s circular feedstock will replace fossil resource, helping to transition to a circular economy.

Feedstock will be available on long-term contracts to petrochemical industry partners.

Plastic Manufacturers & Consumer Brands

Mura offers access to recycled resin via petrochemical partners for use in plastic packaging, reducing need for costly packaging redesigns.

Hydro-PRT is a pathway to net zero and a strong message of action to consumers.

Waste Management, Mechanical Recycling & EfW

Hydro-PRT is a cost-competitive alternative to incinerating waste plastic, reducing CO2 emissions and offering a route to reducing export of plastic waste.

Global recycling partners will supply Mura with high plastic content feedstock.

Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Technology

The Hydro-PRT process will serve as the enabler for a truly circular economy, providing a commercially viable alternative to incineration and landfill for end-of-life plastics.

Global roll-out will result in significant amounts of advanced recycling capacity across the world.

Product Upgrading

Mura and KBR are aiming to provide product upgrading for maximum conversion efficiency of HydroP-PRT feedstock.

Upgrading will, in future, be offered as a standard bolt-on option to the core process, to facilitate integration into existing refineries.