Refinity Licenses PNNL Catalyst Tech to Convert Plastic Waste into SAF
Event summary
- Refinity secured an exclusive license from PNNL for catalyst technology to convert waste plastic-derived olefins into distillate-range products for SAF, renewable diesel, or lubricants.
- The company aims to build conversion plants adjacent to petrochemical steam cracker complexes to supply circular ethylene and propylene.
- Refinity's core fluidized bed conversion process yields over 50% light olefin gas streams from polyolefin-rich mixed plastic waste.
- By the end of 2026, Refinity expects to demonstrate an end-to-end process converting market-sourced plastic waste into distillate-range hydrocarbon liquids.
The big picture
Refinity’s exclusive license from PNNL represents a strategic move to diversify feedstock options for sustainable aviation fuel, addressing supply constraints and land-use debates associated with conventional bio-based feedstocks. The company’s approach aligns with broader industry trends toward circular economies and waste-to-value solutions in the chemicals and petrochemical sectors.
What we're watching
- Technology Integration
- How Refinity will integrate PNNL’s catalytic oligomerization technology with its existing fluidized bed conversion process.
- Market Adoption
- Whether the aviation and petrochemical industries will embrace waste plastic-derived feedstocks for SAF and other products.
- Regulatory Pathways
- The pace at which ASTM pathways for qualifying waste plastic-derived distillate liquids as SAF will be established.
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