Catalytic pyrolysis as a platform technology for supporting the circular carbon economy

Catalytic pyrolysis, a process that combines pyrolysis and vapour-phase catalytic upgrading, is a versatile technology platform capable of direct liquefaction of biomass and waste plastic into intermediates that can enable the decarbonized production of chemicals and/or transportation fuels. Recently, catalytic pyrolysis has attracted substantial research and commercialization attention, with over 15,000 journal articles and patents published in the past decade alone. In this Perspective, we chart a path towards commercial-scale catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastic and biomass by identifying key short-term and long-term technological barriers. Within the proposed development roadmap addressing these barriers, catalytic pyrolysis can move from the demonstration scale to integrated biorefinery networks producing fuels and plastics precursors at a scale of between 0.1 and 1 billion tonnes of carbon per year.

Automated summary

Catalytic pyrolysis is a versatile technology that can directly liquefy biomass and waste plastic into intermediates for decarbonized production of chemicals and/or transportation fuels. It has attracted significant attention in research and commercialization, with over 15,000 journal articles and patents published in the past decade. This Perspective presents a development roadmap to address technological barriers and move catalytic pyrolysis from demonstration scale to integrated biorefinery networks producing fuels and plastics precursors at a scale of between 0.1 and 1 billion tonnes of carbon per year.