Lummus, Sumitomo Chemical launch commercial PMMA chemical recycling technology

JAPAN – Lummus Technology and Sumitomo Chemical have announced the commercial availability of their Polymethyl Methacrylate Chemical Recycling (PMMA-CR) technology, marking a significant step forward in closing the loop for acrylic plastics.

The launch builds on a strategic partnership formed in May 2024 to co-develop and commercialize advanced recycling solutions aimed at supporting circularity and a carbon-neutral petrochemical value chain.

“By uniting Lummus’ process expertise with Sumitomo Chemical’s materials innovation, we’re delivering a scalable, economically viable PMMA recycling solution,” said Leon de Bruyn, President and CEO of Lummus Technology.

“This gives our customers a clear pathway to reduce waste, lower emissions and unlock new value from recycled materials.”

Seiji Takeuchi, Senior Managing Executive Officer at Sumitomo Chemical, added, “Through commercial licensing, we will contribute to the realization of a circular economy by enabling the recycling of PMMA.”

Since forming the alliance, the companies have advanced development and validation of the PMMA-CR technology, including successful pilot plant operations at Sumitomo Chemical’s facility in Japan.

The process chemically recycles end-of-life PMMA, commonly used in automotive glazing, electronics, signage and construction materials, back into high-purity methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer.

The depolymerization system, developed by The Japan Steel Works in collaboration with Sumitomo Chemical, produces recycled MMA equivalent in quality to virgin fossil-based material, enabling true closed-loop recycling.

According to the partners, the technology is expected to reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 50% compared to conventional fossil-based MMA production, while diverting PMMA waste from landfill or incineration.

The PMMA-CR platform features a highly efficient depolymerization process capable of converting post-consumer and post-industrial PMMA waste into circular MMA with high yield and purity.

At its core is an advanced twin-screw extruder system with optimized heating technology to ensure uniform temperature control and strong thermal efficiency, specifically tailored for PMMA depolymerization.

Designed for continuous operation, the self-cleaning extruder supports high equipment utilization and simplified operability.

The technology is also scalable and modular, with capacity adjustable through the duplication of processing trains and offered as modular inside battery limits (ISBL) packages for streamlined project integration.

As demand grows for high-performance recycled materials that meet strict regulatory and quality standards, the commercial rollout of PMMA-CR positions both companies to capitalize on increasing interest in chemical recycling pathways that can deliver virgin-equivalent outputs for advanced applications.

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