Repolywise, a start-up founded by Oxford University researchers, has developed a groundbreaking “Atomic Scissors” technology to address the growing global plastic waste crisis. This cutting-edge technology, supported by £375,000 in grants from Innovate UK, represents a significant leap forward in the fight against plastic pollution. The “Atomic Scissors” process uses a highly innovative hydrocracking technique to break down waste plastics at the atomic level.
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The Technology Behind Atomic Scissors
In its current lab-scale capacity, the technology has demonstrated the efficient, selective, and high-yielding degradation of assorted samples of polyolefins. This initial capacity serves as proof-of-concept for the innovative catalyst developed at Oxford. Repolywise was founded to scale this technology, enabling it to handle larger quantities of plastic waste, from kilograms to tonnes, through a continuous flow process. This advancement moves us closer to a sustainable solution for plastic pollution.
Transforming Plastic Waste with Atomic Scissors
“Our Atomic Scissors technology represents a crucial breakthrough in tackling the global plastic waste crisis,” said Dr. Bryan Ng, Founder and CEO of Repolywise. “By transforming hard-to-recycle plastics into valuable raw materials, we're not just reducing waste — we're enabling a circular economy that redefines how we produce and reuse plastics for a sustainable future.”
The Role of Oxford University in Atomic Scissors Development
Repolywise is a pioneering technology company focused on developing innovative solutions to address the global plastic waste crisis. Founded by Oxford University graduates, Repolywise combines world-class research with practical applications to create a sustainable future for plastics. The company’s Atomic Scissors technology represents a major advancement in chemical recycling, offering a viable pathway to reducing plastic waste and promoting a circular economy.
Founder’s Background: Bryan Ng and Repolywise’s Mission
Bryan is the Founder and CEO of Repolywise, a company he established during his final year at the University of Oxford. With a deep academic background in chemistry, Bryan spent eight years at Oxford’s Department of Chemistry, where he specialized in catalysts for inorganic systems. His doctoral research focused on fuel-forming catalysis, during which he contributed to 14 published papers and laid the foundation for his innovative work in plastic recycling.
Scaling Atomic Scissors for Commercial Use
Repolywise is committed to scaling its Atomic Scissors technology. While the current lab-scale process operates as a 2-gram batch, Repolywise is working on increasing this to a 2-kilogram process in the next development phase. Further funding will help the company achieve a commercial-scale capacity of 2 tonnes in a semi-flow process. This would represent a substantial step towards industrial application of the technology.
A More Efficient & Higher-Yielding Process
The Atomic Scissors process selectively converts plastic waste into propane in a one-step process. This propane is then sold to the petrochemical industry, where it is dehydrogenated or cracked into olefins, which are used in the production of new polyolefins, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). This approach not only helps reduce plastic waste but also supports the circular economy by creating valuable raw materials for new plastic products.
Targeting Polyolefins: The Focus of Atomic Scissors
Repolywise’s technology is designed to process polyolefin plastics, including polyethylene and polypropylene, which account for approximately 50% of the 330 billion kilograms of plastics produced globally each year. These types of plastics are particularly challenging to recycle using conventional methods, often leading to downcycling into lower-quality materials. In contrast, Repolywise’s Atomic Scissors offers a solution to recycle these materials back into high-quality polypropylene, ready for reuse in the production of new plastic products.
Cost-Effectiveness and Energy Efficiency of Atomic Scissors
Repolywise’s Atomic Scissors technology operates under relatively mild conditions with a highly selective process, which contributes to reduced costs compared to other chemical recycling methods. This cost-effectiveness, combined with the technology’s ability to handle hard-to-recycle plastics, positions it as a game-changer in the global effort to reduce plastic waste. The technology is also more energy-efficient than current hydrocracking techniques seen elsewhere, offering a sustainable solution for plastic waste management.
The Next Phase: Scaling and Commercialisation of Atomic Scissors
Repolywise is focused on scaling its Atomic Scissors technology for broader commercial use. With the help of grants from Innovate UK, Repolywise is conducting further research and development at the AgileLab in Oxford University’s Begbroke Science Park. This will enable them to enhance and scale up their technology, taking it from lab-scale to commercial-scale production.
The Future of Atomic Scissors in Plastic Recycling
Under Bryan’s leadership, Repolywise has garnered significant support, including £375,000 in grants from Innovate UK through its ICURe pre-accelerator programme, which helps explore the commercial application of UK research. Innovate UK has recognised Repolywise’s innovative approach to plastic waste, highlighting its potential to play a crucial role in creating a sustainable, circular economy. Repolywise is committed to meeting the highest standards of environmental and operational compliance, working towards obtaining ISCC certification to validate its mass balance approach and ensure the sustainability of its processes.
Atomic Scissors - A Sustainable Solution for Plastic Waste
The innovative Atomic Scissors technology developed by Repolywise offers a highly efficient and scalable solution to the global plastic waste problem. By breaking down difficult-to-recycle polyolefins at the atomic level, the technology not only reduces plastic waste but also promotes a circular economy by transforming waste into valuable raw materials. As Repolywise continues to refine and scale this technology, it could play a significant role in the global effort to combat plastic pollution and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
