Refinity licenses PNNL catalyst tech to convert plastic waste into SAF

Refinity, a subsidiary of Innventure, Inc. (NASDAQ: INV), has secured an exclusive license from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for catalyst technology designed to convert waste plastic-derived light olefins into distillate-range hydrocarbon liquids for use in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and lubricants, according to a press release.

The licensed intellectual property includes one granted patent and one pending patent covering co-oligomerization of mixed light olefins, including ethylene and propylene, into distillate-range olefinic liquids. Refinity holds the exclusive rights to this technology for applications using waste plastic-derived olefins. PNNL's approach employs a two-step catalytic oligomerization process using two different catalysts to produce medium distillate-range olefins.

Refinity's core process uses a fluidized bed conversion system to transform polyolefin-rich mixed plastic waste into light olefin gas streams, primarily ethylene and propylene, at yields the company states are typically above 50%. The company's go-to-market strategy involves building conversion plants adjacent to petrochemical steam cracker complexes to supply circular ethylene and propylene.

The company is currently optimizing process conditions and evaluating the licensed catalyst system in collaboration with PNNL and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Refinity expects to demonstrate an end-to-end process by the end of 2026, converting polyolefin-rich mixed plastic waste into mixed light olefins and then into distillate-range hydrocarbon liquids through catalytic oligomerization. The resulting liquid product is intended to support downstream fuel testing and qualification through existing ASTM pathways.

"By combining our olefins production technology with PNNL's catalytic upgrading capabilities, we believe we can produce customized circular hydrocarbons and unlock additional value from waste plastic while expanding feedstock options for fuels and petrochemical products," said Bill Grieco, CEO of Refinity.

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