Aduro oil passes pilot steam-cracking test in Europe

Executive Summary

• Aduro Clean Technologies successfully completed pilot-scale steam-cracking trials of its Hydrochemolytic oil, demonstrating that the product can be processed as produced without dilution or hydrotreatment.
• The trials, conducted in October 2025 at a European pilot facility by a global petrochemical technology organization, yielded ethylene and propylene comparable to fossil feedstocks.
• This validation confirms the oil meets stringent steam-cracker feedstock specifications, potentially reducing process complexity, capital investment, and operational expenses for downstream operators.

Key Details

• Trial Execution: Conducted in October 2025 at an established pilot-scale cracking facility in Europe.
• Feedstock Used: Mixed waste plastic consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PET, and polyamide.
• Process Conditions: The Hydrochemolytic oil was processed in the pilot-scale steam-cracking furnace as produced, without dilution or further pretreatment, under various operating conditions.
• Technical Results:
  • Achieved stable furnace operation.
  • Yields of ethylene and propylene were comparable to those from comparable fossil feedstock.
  • Product demonstrated high suitability for steam-cracker feedstock specifications without the need for costly post-treatment (hydrotreatment).
• Strategic Implications:
  • Eliminates the need for costly upgrading, extensive sorting, and cleaning often required by alternative chemical recycling processes.
  • Reduces rejection rates of suitable polyolefins and lowers the environmental footprint.
  • Enables integration with existing steam-cracking systems with minimal modifications.
  • Supports improved project economics and higher value for the product.
• Future Plans: The company intends to collaborate with additional global partners to evaluate feedstock quality, scalability, and integration pathways as it moves from pilot to demonstration scale.

Notable Quotes

• "This testing was completed by a global organization with deep expertise in steam-cracking technologies and operations, and their evaluation points to strong potential for liquids produced through our Hydrochemolytic technology to meet the strict performance needs of cracking operations," said Ofer Vicus, chief executive officer at Aduro.
• "The oil was processed as produced, without dilution or posttreatment, while maintaining characteristics aligned with demanding feedstock requirements. That level of suitability points to a pathway where HCT-derived liquids could be engineered for commercial furnaces with significantly reduced or simplified upgrading steps, creating meaningful cost and efficiency benefits."