Lummus and Sumitomo announce availability of chemical recycling technology

This builds on the strategic partnership between Lummus and Sumitomo Chemical, first announced in May 2024, to co-develop and commercialise technologies that support circularity and carbon-neutral society across the petrochemical value chain.

“By uniting Lummus’ process expertise with Sumitomo Chemical’s materials innovation, we are delivering a scalable, economically viable PMMA recycling solution,” said Leon de Bruyn, President and CEO, Lummus Technology. “This gives our customers a clear pathway to reduce waste, lower emissions, and unlock new value from recycled materials – turning sustainability into a competitive advantage.”

“We are proud to deliver this innovative PMMA-CR technology to market together with our trusted partner, Lummus Technology,” said Seiji Takeuchi, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Sumitomo Chemical. “Through commercial licensing, we will contribute to the realisation of a circular economy by enabling the recycling of PMMA.”

Since establishing the partnership in 2024, Lummus and Sumitomo Chemical advanced development and commercialisation of the PMMA-CR technology, including successful validation at Sumitomo Chemical’s pilot plant in Japan. The technology recycles end-of-life PMMA back into high-purity methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer. Its depolymerisation system, developed by The Japan Steel Works, Ltd and Sumitomo Chemical, produces recycled MMA that matches the quality of fossil-derived material. The process is also expected to cut life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 50%, reducing plastic waste and reliance on fossil-based feedstocks.

Key technology features:

• Highly-efficient PMMA recycling process: converts post-consumer and post-industrial PMMA waste into circular MMA monomer with high yield and high purity.
• Advanced depolymerisation system: utilises an efficient system featuring a twin-screw extruder and a heating system for uniform temperature and excellent thermal efficiency with further optimisation specifically tailored for PMMA depolymerisation.
• Continuous operation: self-cleaning extruder system ensures high equipment utilisation and simple operability.
• Scalable and modular: capacity can be adjusted by duplicating trains; available as modular ISBL packages.
• Circular integration: produces recycled MMA monomer equivalent in quality to MMA monomer manufactured from fossil resources, enabling true closed-loop recycling for PMMA applications in automotive, electronics, construction, and more.

With PMMA-CR technology now available for licensing, Lummus and Sumitomo Chemical are ready to support customers’ transition towardcircular PMMA, help improve resource efficiency, and reduce environmental impact.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/05022026/lummus-and-sumitomo-announce-availability-of-chemical-recycling-technology/