Method for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant based on virtual tanks

Abstract

The disclosure refers to a method for controlling a chemical recycling plant (100) configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials (W) in one or more different recycling processes (102a,b,c) that comprises receiving material attribute data (AD) associated with attribute values (A) of recycled waste material (103), providing virtual tanks (VT) associated with respective tank attribute data (TA) related to a respective set of attributes values, digitally assigning the recycled material the virtual tanks based on the material attribute data and the tank attribute data. When material request data (RD) indicative of a request by a requesting entity (108) for requested recycled material (109) with a set of target attribute values (TAV) is received, the method includes allocating requested recycled waste material (109) from the virtual tanks to the requesting entity based on the set of attributes values of the virtual tanks and the set of target attribute values.

Description

[0001] METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND / OR MONITORING A CHEMICAL RECYCLING PLANT BASED ON VIRTUAL

[0002] TANKS

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present disclosure is directed to a computer-implemented method for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials in one or more different recycling processes. The disclosure is also directed to a controller unit for controlling and / or monitoring the chemical recycling plant, to a chemical recycling plant and to a computer program.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.

[0007] In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible through recycling. These can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value.

[0008] In the recycling industry, open-loop recycling is a recycling process that allows for the postponement of waste disposal by transforming manufactured items into both new raw materials (which can be utilized as manufacturing inputs) and waste products. Closed-loop recycling, by contrast, is a recycling process in which a manufactured good is recycled back into itself or a similar product without undergoing significant degradation or producing trash.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Upcoming regulations may impose minimum threshold values for the content of recycled material in a product. Further, closed-loop recycling requires tracking the nature of the original product for producing a new product of the same category. It would be beneficial to provide a model for implementing circular economy principles in a recycling plant.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure a computer-implemented method is disclosed, for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials in one or more different recycling processes.

[0012] The method comprises receiving material attribute data associated with attribute values of recycled waste material based on the recycling processes used for recycling. Receiving the material attribute data may include providing, generating, determining or otherwise obtaining said material attribute data. The method also comprises providing a plurality of virtual tanks, each associated with respective tank attribute data related to a respective set of attributes values, digitally assigning the recycled waste material to at least one of the virtual tanks based on the material attribute data associated with the recycled waste material and the tank attribute, receiving material request data indicative of a request by a requesting entity for requested recycled waste material with a set of target attribute values, and controlling and / or monitoring the chemical production plant by allocating the requested recycled waste material from the plurality of virtual tanks to the requesting entity based on the set of attributes values of the plurality of virtual tanks and the set of target attribute values.

[0013] The recyclable waste materials, when recycled using one of the one or more different recycling processes available in the chemical recycling plant, is turned into recycled waste material. The recycled material waste is characterized by one or more material attributes, having a respective attribute value. A plurality of virtual tanks is provided. Each of the virtual tanks is associated with corresponding tank attribute data that indicates the attribute values of the contents (e.g., the virtual content) of the virtual tank. The recycled waste material, as output material of the recycling process, is digitally assigned to one of the virtual tanks based on the attribute values of the recycled material and the attribute values or value-ranges associated with the virtual tanks via the tank attribute data.

[0014] Thus, the virtual tanks provide a digital representation of the recycled waste materials organized by attribute values in accordance with the tank attribute data.

[0015] A requesting entity requiring recycled material issues a request in the form of material request data. The material request data is indicative of the request for recycled waste material having certain attribute values. These are provided as a set of target attribute values that the requested recycled waste material is required to have.

[0016] The chemical recycling plant, upon receiving the material request data from the requesting entity, can be controlled and / or monitored by digitally allocating the requested recycled material waste in dependence on the set of target attribute values that the requesting entity is expecting or requiring and the set of attribute values of the virtual tanks based. The digitally assigning, or “filling” of, virtual tanks with already recycled waste materials in dependence of its attribute values provides a solution by using a computer-implemented method, e.g. a digital tool, that allows operators of chemical recycling plants to allocate recycled material from these virtual tanks to producers upon request, for instance using a mass balance principle.

[0017] By enabling a circular business model, the method allows companies to reduce waste, conserve resources, and improve sustainability. It provides a transparent and auditable system for tracking recycled waste materials, which can lead to reduced costs, improved customer satisfaction, and new business opportunities.

[0018] In the following, embodiments of the method of the first aspect of the disclosure will be disclosed.

[0019] In an embodiment, the virtual tanks are further associated with filling data related to a quantity value of the recycled waste materials assigned to the respective virtual tank. In this particular embodiment, the method further comprises updating the filling data of the virtual tanks based on the requested recycled waste material allocated to the requesting entity. The virtual tanks are associated with data pertaining to the amount or quantity of recycled waste material that has been assigned to the virtual tank and has attribute values that correspond to the tank attribute data. The material request data may be further indicative of a required quantity of the requested recycled waste material. The filling data associated to the virtual tank to which the recycled waste material having attribute values corresponding to the set of target attribute values is assigned to, is updated according to the required quantity.

[0020] Preferably, in an embodiment, the recyclable waste material is plastic waste material. Chemical recycling, also referred to as “chemcycling”, can be used to process waste streams, in particular, but not limited to, plastic waste streams, that are not recycled only mechanically for technological, economic or ecological reasons. For example, in the case of plastic waste, while sorted single-stream plastic waste could be recycled mechanically, chemical recycling can be used for mixed post-consumer plastic waste streams, consisting of, e.g., polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS), for which further sorting is not economical. Preferred waste material for such chemical recycling are plastics which represent significant value not only in the arena of circular economy and the corresponding recycling processes, but also for the possible fiscal value for the waste collecting party. Examples are plastics with residues, mixed plastic waste fractions, consisting of different plastic types, which will not be sorted further or scrap tires which are not recycled otherwise. Together, mechanical and chemical recycling can increase the overall recycling rates and contribute to an improved circular economy for plastics. The plastic waste can be consumer waste plastic such as, for example, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, other polyolefins, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides, poly(methyl methacrylate), polytetrafluoroethylene, or combinations thereof. The waste plastics may also include high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, or combinations thereof. The plastic waste may also comprise not more than a weight percentage of 1 to 25 weight percent of polyvinyl chloride and / or polyethylene terephthalate.

[0021] In another embodiment, the material attribute data received, generated, determined or otherwise obtained comprises input material data associated with material attributes of the recyclable waste material and / or process data associated with the recycling process applied to the recyclable waste material for obtaining the recycled waste material and / or recycled material data associated with material attributes of the recycled waste material.

[0022] For instance, the input material data associated with material attributes of the recyclable waste material includes data indicative of one or more of a composition of the recyclable waste material, a source of the recyclable waste material, for example a geographical source and / or a product source, and an environmental impact attribute associated with the recyclable waste material. The environmental impact attribute may be associated with the product carbon footprint (PCF) of the product. PCFs are a measure to determine the amount of greenhouse gas emission caused to produce the respective product. PCFs are an important means to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if those products with the lowest PCF are chosen for consumption or for further processing downstream in the value chain. The input material data can be provided in the form of a digital twin of the product from which the waste material originated (e.g. specific car part, mattress, furniture), comprising information about the kind of possible recycling process suitable for the material waste (mechanical or chemical), origin country, kind of polymer, quality of polymer, etc.

[0023] Additionally, or alternatively the process data associated with the recycling process applied to the recyclable waste material includes data indicative of one or more of a type of the recycling process, in particular of type of chemical recycling process (e.g., pyrolysis, cracking, gasification, acidolysis, hydrogenation, solvent-based, depolymerisation, mechanical recycling, etc.), pre-processing steps (e.g., washing, milling, etc.), post processing steps (e.g. pelletizing, etc.), of operation parameters of the respective recycling process, pre-processing steps and / or post-processing steps, and of environmental impact attribute associated with the recycling process, such as PCF associated with the recycling process and / or the pre / post processing steps.

[0024] Additionally, or alternatively, the recycled material data associated with material attributes of the recycled waste material include data indicative of one or more of a composition of the recycled waste material, of a quality attribute of recycled waste material and of an environmental impact attribute associated with recycled waste material.

[0025] The material attribute data, or selected items thereof, can be associated with a product passport of the recycled waste material, which comprises data items related to one or more of the attribute values of the recycled waste material.

[0026] In another embodiment, the material request data comprises priority data associated with an orderable attribute, and the method further comprises allocating the requested recycled waste material to the requesting entity further based on the respective priority data. The orderable attribute is such that, when a plurality of material request data is received, the request can be ordered in view of the orderable attribute.

[0027] This embodiment provides functionality for establishing a marketplace for requiring entities to auction or bid on recycled waste materials that hold the highest value for them. The underlying waste units, e.g. recycled waste materials based on specific attributes can be described by a standardized data set, like a digital product passport (DPP) for such recycled waste material. The DPP may contain data pertaining to the material composition of the recycled waste material, which enables to determine or judge if the recycled waste has the right attributes for producing a product.

[0028] Further, the input material data can be used to determine if the corresponding waste material can be fed to a particular recycling process or whether a particular recycling process should be avoided or excluded due to the effect of the recyclable waste material on the technical recycling equipment. It is preferred that the input material data describe the material (chemical / physical) state of the waste material and / or the origin (e.g., where the waste material comes from), to ensure that no impurities which can hinder the recycling process are involved. In another embodiment, the material request data comprise environmental impact data associated to a required environmental impact attribute value, and the method further comprises allocating the requested recycled waste material to the requesting entity further based on the environmental impact data. Thus, the requesting entity can request recycled waste material that complies with the required environmental impact attribute, in particular when the material attribute data comprises attribute values indicative of the environmental impact attribute associates with the recycled waste material.

[0029] In another embodiment, the method further comprises providing control signals for controlling and / or monitoring the provision of the requested recycled waste material allocated to the corresponding requesting entity, in particular also in dependence on the priority data, if more than one request is received for the same recycled waste material. In an embodiment, the control signals are configured to identify the recycled waste material that is requested, and / or to locate said material, e.g., in a warehouse, and / or to indicate the amount of recycled waste material requested, and / or to process the requested recycled waste material if required (e.g., pelletizing, packaging, complying with risk regulations, etc.) and / or to manage a transport process of the requested recycled waste material to the requesting entity. The requesting entity can be an external party or can be a production plant associated with the chemical recycling plant.

[0030] In another embodiment, the method further comprises generating certification data associated with at least a subset of the attribute values of the requested recycled waste material, and providing the generated certification data to the requesting entity.

[0031] The different data types described above, including, for instance, material attribute data, input material data, process data, recycled material data, environmental impact data, and / or certification data be provided as data or data items associated with a product identifier or product passport. The product passport may be recognized as a digital twin of the product (e.g. the input waste material, the recycled waste material, the requested recycled waste material) that documents product related information and sustainability or environmental impact information associated to the product along a value chain of the product, from raw material until end of life to disposal, recycling or repurposing of the product.

[0032] The product identifier, or product passport, can be a decentral product identifier that comprises any unique identifier uniquely associated with the product or a part thereof, and optionally a data owner. The decentral product identifier may connect a physical entity of the product or part thereof to a digital twin of the product. The digital twin may be digital representation or digital version of the physical entity of the product or the part thereof and may contain product data describing the physical entity of the product or the part thereof. The product data may be contained in one or more data sets (also denoted as digital twin data set(s)). The product data may include data related to the use of the product or part thereof, data related to the production of the product or part thereof, one or more product / component identifiers, the product / component name, the chemical composition of the product or components thereof, measured and / or determined chemical and / or physical properties of the product or part thereof, emission data of the product or part thereof, recyclate content data of the product or part thereof, bio-based content data of the product or part thereof, renewable content data of the product or part thereof, product declaration data, product safety data, certificate of analysis data associated with the product or part thereof, certificates associated with the product or part thereof, or a combination thereof.

[0033] The decentral product identifier may include one or more Universally Unique Identifier(s) (UUID(s)) or one or more Digital Identifier(s) (DID(s)). The one or more DID(s) and / or UUID(s) may be associated with the digital twin of the product or the part thereof. The one or more DID(s) and / or UUID(s) may further be associated with the product or the part thereof. The decentral product identifier may be generated by the owner of the product data or on behalf of the owner of the product data. The decentral product identifier may include authentication information. Via the decentral product identifier and its unique association with the digital twin of the product or part thereof (and hence with the physical entity of the product or part thereof) and optionally the data owner, access to the digital twin and hence the product data may be controlled by the data owner. This contrasts with central authority schemes, where identifiers are provided by such central authority and access to data is controlled by such central authority. Decentral in this context refers to the usage of the decentral product identifier(s) in implementations as controlled by the data owner. The decentral product identifier may be connected to access data for accessing product data or parts thereof via a decentral network.

[0034] In an embodiment, when no recycled waste material can be allocated to the requesting entity, for instance because there is no virtual tank associated with recycled waste material having the required attribute values, or because there is no sufficient quantity thereof to accommodate the request, the method comprises: Generating a material request order for receiving recyclable waste material which, when recycled in accordance with at least one of the recycling processes, provides recycled waste material having the required attribute values, or generating a material request order for recycling available material such that the resulting recycled waste material complies with the required attributes, e.g., composition, PCF, origin (for instance for closed-loop recycling processes).

[0035] A second aspect of the present disclosure is formed by a controller unit for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials in one or more different recycling processes. The controller of the second aspect comprises a material attribute data receiving unit that is configured to receive, generate, determine or otherwise obtain material attribute data associated with attribute values of the recycled waste material based on the recycling processes used for recycling, and a virtual tank management unit that is configured to provide a plurality of virtual tanks each associated with tank attribute data related to a respective set of attributes values, to digitally assign the recycled waste material to at least one of the virtual tanks based on the material attribute data associated with the recycled waste material and the tank attribute data, to receive material request data indicative of a request by a requesting entity for requested recycled waste material with a set of target attribute values and to control and / or monitor the chemical recycling plant by digitally allocating requested recycled waste material from the plurality of virtual tanks to the requesting entity based on the set of attributes values of the plurality of virtual tanks and the set of target attribute values. Thus, the controller unit of the second aspect of the present disclosure shares the advantages of the computer implemented method of the first aspect.

[0036] In the following, embodiments of the controller unit of the second aspect will be disclosed.

[0037] In an embodiment, the material request data comprises environmental impact data associated with a required environmental impact attribute value of the recycled material waste requested, and the virtual tank management unit is further configured to allocate the requested recycled material waste to the requesting entity further based on the environmental impact data.

[0038] In yet another embodiment the virtual tank management unit is further configured to provide control signals for controlling the provision of the requested recycled waste material allocated to the corresponding requesting entity.

[0039] In another embodiment, the virtual tank management unit is further configured to generate certification data associated with at least a subset of the attribute values of the requested recycled waste material, and to provide the generated certification data to the requesting entity.

[0040] A third aspect of the present disclosure is formed by a chemical recycling plant that is configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste material types in one or more different recycling processes. The chemical recycling plant comprises a controller unit in accordance with the second aspect and thus also shares the advantages of the method of the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0041] The chemical recycling plant of the third aspect also includes one or more recycling units associated with the one or more different recycling processes for providing recycled material waste.

[0042] In an embodiment of the chemical recycling plant, the one or more different recycling processes include one or more chemical recycling processes selected from a pyrolysis process, a cracking process, in particular performed after the pyrolysis process, a gasification process, an acidolysis process, a hydrogenation process, a solvent-based process, a depolymerization process, and a mechanical recycling process.

[0043] Pyrolysis is a chemical recycling process that involves heating plastic waste in the absence of oxygen to break it down into smaller molecules, resulting in pyrolysis oil. This oil can then be used as a feedstock for producing new chemicals (e.g., plastics). For example, a small-scale pyrolysis plant can convert mixed plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, which is then refined and used to produce new (e.g. plastic) products.

[0044] Cracking refers to a process where complex organic molecules are broken down into simpler molecules. Suitable cracking processes include, for instance, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), hydrocracking and steam cracking. Steam cracking is a petrochemical process in which saturated hydrocarbons are broken down into smaller, often unsaturated, hydrocarbons. The products produced in the reaction depend on the composition of the feed, the hydrocarbon- to-steam ratio, and on the cracking temperature and furnace residence time. Light hydrocarbon feeds such as ethane, LPGs, or light naphtha give mainly lighter alkenes, including ethylene, propylene, and butadiene. Heavier hydrocarbon (full range and heavy naphthas as well as other refinery products) feeds give some of these same products, but also those rich in aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons suitable for inclusion in gasoline or fuel oil.

[0045] Gasification is a process that converts plastic waste into syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) by heating it at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen. The syngas can be used to produce chemicals and fuels. An example is the use of gasification to process plastic waste from industrial packaging, converting it into syngas, which is then used to produce methanol.

[0046] Acydolysis is a process in which a molecule is decomposed under the influence of an acid. The process can be used for the chemical recycling of polyurethane foam.

[0047] Hydrogenation is a process that involves adding hydrogen to plastic waste to break it down into smaller hydrocarbons. The resulting products can be used as feedstock for new plastic production or as fuel. For instance, a hydrogenation process can convert polyethylene waste into liquid hydrocarbons, which are then used as feedstock for producing new polyethylene.

[0048] Solvolysis is a solvent-based process that uses solvents to dissolve plastic waste, breaking it down into its monomers or other useful chemicals. The recovered monomers can be used to produce new plastics. An example is the solvolysis of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) waste, where the PET is dissolved in a solvent, and the resulting monomers are purified and used to produce new PET products.

[0049] Depolymerisation is a process that converts a polymer into a monomer or a mixture of monomers. The process is relevant for polymer recycling and the resulting monomers can be used for the production of new plastic material.

[0050] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is formed by a computer program product comprising instructions, which when executed by a controller unit of a chemical recycling plant, cause the controller unit to carry out the computer implemented method of the first aspect.

[0051] It shall be understood that the computer implemented method described above, the chemical recycling plant described above, and the computer program product described above have similar and / or identical preferred embodiments, in particular, as defined in the dependent claims.

[0052] It shall be understood that a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure can also be any combination of the dependent claim or above embodiments with a respective independent claim.

[0053] These and other aspects of the present disclosure will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In the following drawings:

[0055] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary chemical recycling plant;

[0056] Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a chemical recycling plant in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0057] Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a controller unit in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0058] Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a chemical recycling plant in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0059] Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a chemical recycling plant in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0060] Fig. 6 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary computer implemented method for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0061] Fig. 7 shows optional method steps of another exemplary embodiment of a method for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant according to the disclosure.

[0062] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0063] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary chemical recycling plant 100. The chemical recycling plant 100 receives recyclable waste materials W for recycling. For example, in the field of chemical recycling, the waste materials W that are received may be categorized by an association with one of a plurality of predetermined categories in terms of the suitability of received waste material types for recycling. For example, the waste materials W can be assigned to one or more (e.g., for the case of a blend of different plastic materials) of the following categories:

[0064] Category A includes preferred materials suitable for chemical recycling, i.e. materials with a positive environmental impact, such as, but not limited to solid hydrocarbon-rich materials, such as polymers, e.g. Polyethylene (HPDE, LDPE), Polypropylene (PP) and Polystyrene (EPS), Polyisoprene, Polyisobutylene, Polybutadiene.

[0065] Category B includes less-preferred materials for chemical recycling, i.e. materials with a moderate environmental impact, such as, but not limited to, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyester (PES), Polyamide (PA), e.g. Nylon, Nylon6 and Nylon 6,6, Polyurethan (PU), Epoxy Resins, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polymethacrylate (PM MA), Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and materials containing hydrocarbons derived from wood, agricultural products and algae.

[0066] Category C includes non-preferred materials for chemical recycling, i.e. materials with no or even a negative environmental impact, such as, but not limited to, Teflon (PTFE), Silicone, Glass, Pigments, Metal(s) and metal(s) content containing materials as for example (Pb, Hg, As, Zn, Si, Na, K, Mg, Ni, Cu, ....), and the like.

[0067] The chemical recycling plant may implement one or more chemical recycling process for recycling the received waste materials, in dependence on the type or category of waste material received. Chemical recycling process include, for instance, pyrolysis process, cracking process (e.g., steam cracking), in particular performed after the pyrolysis process, gasification process, acidolysis process, hydrogenation process, a solvent-based process and / or depolymerization process. The chemical recycling plant 100 may also implement a mechanical recycling process. The chemical recycling plant 100 may also implement pre-processing steps to the received recyclable waste material such as sorting, washing, milling, etc. The chemical recycling plant 100 may also implement post-processing steps to the recycled material obtained from recycling the recyclable waste material, such as pelletizing.

[0068] The chemical recycling plant may comprise a warehouse or storage unit, where the recycled waste material is stored. The recycled waste material can be requested by a requesting entity, for example to be used in the production of a new product. Once a request for recycled waste material is received, the requested recycled waste material 109 can be provided to the requesting entity.

[0069] In the frame of circular economy is it necessary to track the recycled waste materials in terms of its attributes, such that the requests for recycled material having specific attributes can be met. This is highly important in the field of automotive industry. As a source of automotive waste materials, automotive shredder residue ("ASR") can be obtained for end-of-life vehicles ("ELVs") based on the following process steps: depollution, dismantling, shredding, separating and sorting metal fragments and other materials from shredded vehicle, thus obtaining ASR. Finally, the ASR may be separated into shredder light fraction and shred-der heavy fraction.

[0070] In depollution of vehicles hazardous liquids such as fuel, lubricating oil, coolants, brake fluids and batteries can be removed from the vehicles prior to shredding. The dismantling of vehicles may comprise selective removal of parts, such as engines, gearboxes, tires, glass, and plastics, for being reused or refurbished as spare parts for the secondhand market. The dismantling may also comprise the removal of larger plastic components, such as bumpers, dashboards or fluid containers, for recycling the plastics separately. The ASR may comprise further waste from other sources. For example, garbage from the last owners may remain in the trunk or interior of the vehicles.

[0071] The collected ASR-based or ASR-related waste materials can only be used as input material for a chemical recycling (“Chemcycling”) process if such waste materials comprise a certain minimum quality. Further the specific chemical recycling process depends on the type of waste material, since certain types of waste materials may damage the technical equipment or be otherwise not suitable therefor. Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a chemical recycling plant 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The chemical recycling plant 100 is configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials W1, W2 in one or more different recycling processes 102a, 102b, 102c. Recycling process 102a exemplarily comprises at least two processing steps S1 and S2, recycling process 102b exemplarily comprises at least one processing step S3 and recycling process 102c exemplarily comprises at least one processing step S4. Each processing step is performed at a corresponding recycling units. The plurality of chemical recycling processes may be preceded by a sorting process SO in which the stream of recyclable waste materials W1, W2 is directed to the suitable recycling process 102a, 102b, 102c. The result of applying a recycling process 102a, 102b 102c to the recyclable waste materials W1, W2 is a recycled waste material 103.

[0072] The chemical recycling plant comprises a controller unit 200, which will be explained in more detail with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a controller unit 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. Those features having a similar or identical functionality in the examples shown in the figures are referred to using the same reference numbers or reference signs. The controller unit 200 comprises a material attribute data receiving unit 202 that is configured to receive, generate, determine or otherwise obtain material attribute data AD associated with attribute values A1-Ai, B1 -Bj, C1-Ck of the recycled waste material 103 based on the recycling processes used for recycling. The material attribute data AD enables the categorization of the recycled materials in metrics that are suitable for differentiating the recycled waste materials in terms of possible future uses, in particular in the frame of circular economy, where the materials used have to be traceable in order to meet with current and / or upcoming regulations. For instance, the material attribute data may comprise recycled material data OD associated with material attributes of the recycled waste material including data indicative of one or more of a composition of the recycled waste material, of a quality attribute of recycled waste material and / or of an environmental impact attribute (e.g. PDF) associated with recycled waste material 103. The material attribute data may also depend on or be explicitly indicative of the type and / or attributes of recyclable waste material and / or of the type and / or process parameters of the recycling process.

[0073] The material attribute data, or selected items thereof can be associated with a product passport of the recycled waste material, which comprises data items related to one or more of the attribute values of the recycled waste material.

[0074] The controller unit 200 also comprises a virtual tank management unit 204 that is configured to provide or generate a plurality of virtual tanks VT1, VT2, VTn. Each virtual tank is associated with respective tank attribute data TAI , TA2, TAn related to a respective set of attributes values or value ranges. For example, virtual tanks can be associated to different sets of attributes, that include, for instance, chemical and / or physical properties of the material, original product from which the waste material originates (for instance for the case of closed-loop recycling), environmental impact attribute associated with the recycled material (for the case of a mass-balance approach), etc.

[0075] The virtual tank management unit is also configured to digitally assign the recycled waste material 103 to at least one of the virtual tanks VT 1 , VT2, VT n based on the material attribute data A1 -Ai, B1 -Bj, C1 -Ck associated with the recycled waste material 103 and the tank attribute data TA1, TA2, Tan. The attribute values of the recycled materials 103 are checked and compared to the tank attribute data to perform the digital assignment. If the current recycled material does not match with any of the available virtual tanks, a new virtual tank can be created, associated with tank attribute data that is correlated to the attribute values of the recycled material. The virtual tank management unit 204 may also associate the virtual tanks with filling data F1 , F2, Fn (see Fig. 2) related to a quantity value of the recycled waste materials 103 assigned to the respective virtual tank VT1, VT2, VTn, such that the virtual tank management unit keeps track of the amount of material available that has attribute values corresponding to the respective tank attribute data.

[0076] The virtual tank management unit 204 is also configured to receive material request data RD indicative of a request by a requesting entity 108 for requested recycled waste material 109 with a set of target attribute values TAV. The set of target attributes may be indicative of a required recycled waste material, and / or a required composition of the recycled waste material and / or of a required purity of the recycled waste material, and / or required PCF of the recycled waste material and / or of a required original product of the recycled waste material (e.g. a particular car part, for instance for closed-loop recycling), etc.

[0077] The virtual tank management unit is further configured to control and / or monitor the chemical recycling plant 100 by digitally allocating requested recycled waste material 109 from the plurality of virtual tanks VT1, VT2, VTn to the requesting entity 108 based on the set of attributes values TA1 , TA2, TAn of the plurality of virtual tanks and the set of target attribute values TAV. Thus, if the chemical recycling plant has recycled waste material complying with the required specifications, given by the material request data, the virtual tank management unit can allocate part of the recycled waste material 103 to the requesting entity 108 as requested recycled waste material 109, having attributes that match the requested attributes TAV.

[0078] The virtual tank management unit 204 can then update the filling data of the virtual tanks based on the requested recycled waste material allocated to the requesting entity to accommodate further requests.

[0079] The virtual tank management unit 204 can also provide control signals CS for controlling the provision 110 of the requested recycled waste material allocated to the corresponding requesting entity, as shown in Fig. 2.

[0080] Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a chemical recycling plant 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. In the chemical recycling plant 100 of Fig. 4, the material attribute data receiving unit 202 is further configured to receive, input material data MD associated with material attributes MA1, MA2 of the recyclable waste materials W1, W2 that includes data indicative of one or more of a composition of the recyclable waste materials, a source of the recyclable waste materials, for example a geographical source and / or a product source, and / or an environmental impact attribute associated with the recyclable waste materials. The environmental impact attribute may be associated with the product carbon footprint (PCF) of the waste material. The input material data can be provided in the form of a digital twin digital of the product from which the waste material originated (e.g. specific car part, mattress, furniture), comprising information about the kind of possible recycling process suitable for the material waste (mechanical or chemical), origin country, kind of polymer, quality of polymer, etc. Additionally, or alternatively, the material attribute data receiving unit 202 is also configured to receive process data PD associated with the recycling process applied to the recyclable waste material W1, W2, and includes data indicative of one or more of a type of the recycling process, in particular of type of chemical recycling process (e.g., pyrolysis, (steam) cracking, gasification, acidolysis, hydrogenation, solvent-based, depolymerisation, mechanical recycling, etc.), pre-processing steps (e.g., washing, milling, etc.), post processing steps (e.g. pelletizing, etc.), of operation parameters of the respective recycling process, pre-processing steps and / or post-processing steps, and of environmental impact attribute associated with the recycling process, such as PCF associated with the recycling process and / or the pre / post processing steps.

[0081] Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a chemical recycling plant 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. In the particular chemical recycling plant 100 shown in Fig. 5, the virtual tank management unit is configured to receive material request data RD 1 , RD2, RD3 from a plurality of different requiring entities. The material request data RD1 , RD2, RD3, comprises respective priority data P1 , P2, P3 associated with an orderable attribute, such that the requests from the different requiring entities can be prioritized or ordered with respect to the priority data. The virtual tank management unit 204 is configured to allocate the requested recycled waste material to the requesting entity further based on the respective priority data. Thus, when two or more requesting entities request recycled material waste with the same target attribute values and the chemical recycling plant cannot satisfy both requests simultaneously, e.g., due to a shortage of material, the available recycled waste material can be allocated to a requesting entity based on the priority data included in the material request data.

[0082] Further, the virtual tank management unit 204 may be configured to generate certification data CD associated with at least a subset of the attribute values of the requested recycled waste material 109 and to provide the generated certification data to the requesting entity.

[0083] In an exemplary chemical recycling plant, the virtual tanks are “virtually filled” or digitally associated with already recycled plastic materials, e.g., from both automotive and non-automotive sources. The use of virtual tanks provides a solution by using a digital tool that allows companies to allocate material from these virtual tanks to automotive producers upon request, for example using a mass balance principle. The use of the virtual tanks also allows to provide such producers with a digital certificate, potentially in the form of an NFT (non-fungible token) technology, to verify the use of recycled materials (for instance, in order to provide evidence that the regulatory aspects regarding the use of recycled materials are met, or even, for the case of closed-loop recycling, to provide evidence of the origin of the recycled waste materials used).

[0084] More particularly, the controller unit implements a digital tool that enables a circular business model, for instance for the automotive industry. It may combine mass balance and virtual tank principles to track the waste materials derived from car part recycling and “fill” virtual tanks with recycled waste materials according to their attribute values. An operator of the chemical recycling plant can allocate material from these virtual tanks to customers or requesting entities upon request, for instance using the mass balance principle. The chemical recycling plant may use information included in a digital twin of the product (i.e. car or car part) that comprises information about the kind of possible recycling process (mechanical or chemical), country of origin, kind of polymer, and quality of polymer. The provision of data and certification can be based on blockchain technology and NFTs, or a technology like Catena-X, i.e. a collaborative data ecosystem. The blockchain-based solution provides a secure and transparent system for tracking recycled materials, while NFTs can be used to create digital certificates that verify the use of recycled waste materials. Catena-X offers a collaborative data ecosystem that enables data sharing and connectivity across companies and industries, facilitating the tracking and allocation of recycled waste materials.

[0085] The digital twin of such products e.g., recycled waste materials (such as recycled plastic materials) may comprise information about the kind of recycling process performed (mechanical or chemical, and, in the case of chemical recycling, the chemical recycling process used), country of origin of the mentioned automotive and non-automotive sources, kind of polymer of such product originating from car part recycling, and / or quality of the polymer.

[0086] The use of the controller in accordance with the disclosure may provide the functionality for establishing a marketplace for chemical recycling plants to auction or bid on herein waste materials (or vice versa) that hold the highest value for them, because the waste process owners know the monetary value of such waste material of a certain material combination. The underlying waste units, i.e. waste materials based on car parts or other non-automotive sources, of such combinations are described by a standardized data set, like a digital product passport (DPP) for such waste. The DPP, in the present scenario, may contain the underlying material composition to determine or judge if the waste has the right contents for recycling, in particular for chemical recycling. Insofar, such ingredients have to be avoided or excluded which could harm the recycling process, or the underlying technical recycling equipment, respectively. In addition, the DPP may describe the material (chemical / physical) state of the waste material and the origin (i.e. where the waste comes from), to ensure that no impurities which can hinder the recycling are involved.

[0087] The established marketplace may operate by means of smart contracts thus ensuring transparent and secure transactions. By enabling recycling processes to compete for the waste materials, the tool further optimizes the allocation and utilization of recycled plastics, allowing businesses to comply with the regulations.

[0088] The proposed used of virtual tanks for managing requests for recycled waste materials may provide the following technical aspects / features and benefits of such an auction-like system where recycled waste materials having specific attribute values are bid upon:

[0089] - Blockchain approach for managing recycling process bids for mentioned recyclable waste materials;

[0090] Recyclable waste material registration and bidding by recycling process providers (or vice versa);

[0091] Waste provider registration for offering such recycled waste materials; Selection of the best bid based on various factors;

[0092] - Execution of recycling process by means of smart contracts;

[0093] - Verification and feedback provided by participants;

[0094] - Improved transparency and efficiency in recycling industry.

[0095] In general, the proposed controller unit and the related chemical recycling plant have significant economic and technical potential. By enabling a circular business model (e.g., for the automotive industry), the tool allows companies to reduce waste, conserve resources, and improve sustainability. It provides a transparent and auditable system for tracking recycled materials, which can lead to reduced costs, improved customer satisfaction, and new business opportunities. The tool's technical solution based on blockchain and NFTs, or a technology like that used for the “Ca- tena-X” automotive digital supply chain approach, offers a secure and collaborative decentralized data ecosystem for tracking and allocating recycled materials.

[0096] The concept of virtual tanks is intended for use by companies involved in the car part recycling value chain, including automotive manufacturers, recycling facilities, and material suppliers. Companies can utilize the tool to allocate recycled waste materials from virtual tanks to customers upon request, using the mass balance principle. The tool also provides customers with a digital certificate, potentially in the form of an NFT, to verify the use of recycled materials. Automobile manufacturers can leverage the tool to source recycled materials efficiently and achieve the required recycled plastics content in their cars. Recycling processes can participate in the marketplace to acquire the waste materials that align with their capabilities and contribute to a circular business model.

[0097] The enablement of a digital marketplace for recycling processes, incentivizes competition and innovation in the recycling industry. The tool facilitates the efficient sourcing and utilization of waste materials, leading to cost savings, increased resource efficiency, and the development of circular business models, especially in the automotive sector. It also promotes the use of recycled plastics, reducing dependency on virgin materials and contributing to sustainability goals.

[0098] Fig. 6 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary computer implemented method for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant in accordance with the present disclosure. The computer-implemented method 500 is suitable for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant that is configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials in one or more different recycling processes. The method comprises, in a step 502, receiving, generating, determining or otherwise obtaining material attribute data associated with attribute values of recycled waste material based on the recycling processes used for recycling. The method 500 comprises, in a step 504, providing or generating a plurality of virtual tanks VT1 , VT2, VTn each associated with respective tank attribute data TA1 , TA2, TAn related to a respective set of attributes values. The method 500 comprises, in a step 506, digitally assigning the recycled waste material 103 to at least one of the virtual tanks VT 1 , VT2, VTn based on the material attribute data A1-Ai, B1 -Bj, C1-Ck associated with the recycled waste material 103 and the tank attribute data TA1, TA2, TAn. The method 500 comprises, in a step 508, receiving material request data RD indicative of a request by a requesting entity 108 for requested recycled waste material 109 with a set of target attribute values TAV. The method 500 comprises, in a step 509, determining whether the set of target attributes corresponds or is enclosed by any of the tank attribute data of the virtual tanks. If there is recycled waste material assigned to a virtual tank and that has attribute values that correspond to those of the material request data, namely the target attribute values, the method comprises, in a step 510, controlling and / or monitoring the chemical recycling plant by digitally allocating requested recycled waste material 109 from the plurality of virtual tanks VT1, VT2, VTn to the requesting entity 108 based on the set of attributes values TA1 , TA2, TAn of the plurality of virtual tanks and the set of target attribute values TAV.

[0099] Optionally, the method 500 may comprise, in a step 512, updating filling data F1 , F2, Fn associated with the virtual tanks based on the requested recycled waste material allocated to the requesting entity.

[0100] Optionally, the method 500 may comprise, in a step 518, providing control signals OS for controlling the provision 110 of the requested recycled waste material allocated to the corresponding requesting entity.

[0101] Fig. 7 shows optional method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant according to the disclosure. According to the method shown in Fig. 7 the material request data RD comprises priority data P1 , P2, P3 associated with an orderable attribute, and a plurality of requests for the same recycled waste material are received in step 508. If, according step 509, there is recycled waste material assigned to a virtual tank and that has attribute values that correspond to those of the material request data, namely the target attribute values, the method comprises, in a step 513, determining a selected requesting entity (e.g., a so- called highest bidder) based on the priority data of the material request data, and in a step 514, allocating the requested recycled waste material to the selected requesting entity based on the respective priority data.

[0102] The method 500 may further comprise, in a step 520, generating certification data CD associated with at least a subset of the attribute values of the requested recycled waste material 109 and providing the generated certification data to the requesting entity or the selected requesting entity.

[0103] In summary, the disclosure refers to a method for controlling a chemical recycling plant configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials in one or more different recycling processes that comprises receiving material attribute data associated with attribute values of recycled waste material, providing virtual tanks associated with respective tank attribute data related to a respective set of attributes values, digitally assigning the recycled material the virtual tanks based on the material attribute data and the tank attribute data. When material request data indicative of a request by a requesting entity for requested recycled material with a set of target attribute values is received, the method includes allocating requested recycled waste material from the virtual tanks to the requesting entity based on the set of attributes values of the virtual tanks and the set of target attribute values. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0104] A single unit or device may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0105] Procedure steps performed by one or several units or devices can be performed by any other number of units or devices. These procedures can be implemented as program code means of a computer program and / or as dedicated hardware.

[0106] A computer program product may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium, supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

[0107] Any units described herein may be processing units that are part of a classical computing system. Processing units may include a general-purpose processor and may also include a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other specialized circuit. Any memory may be a physical system memory, which may be volatile, non-volatile, or some combination of the two. The term “memory” may include any computer-readable storage media such as a non-volatile mass storage. If the computing system is distributed, the processing and / or memory capability may be distributed as well. The computing system may include multiple structures as “executable components”. The term “executable component” is a structure well understood in the field of computing as being a structure that can be software, hardware, or a combination thereof.

[0108] For instance, when implemented in software, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the structure of an executable component may include software objects, routines, methods, and so forth, that may be executed on the computing system. This may include both an executable component in the heap of a computing system, or on computer-readable storage media. The structure of the executable component may exist on a computer-readable medium such that, when interpreted by one or more processors of a computing system, e.g., by a processor thread, the computing system is caused to perform a function. Such structure may be computer readable directly by the processors, for instance, as is the case if the executable component were binary, or it may be structured to be interpretable and / or compiled, for instance, whether in a single stage or in multiple stages, so as to generate such binary that is directly interpretable by the processors.

[0109] In other instances, structures may be hard coded or hard-wired logic gates, that are implemented exclusively or near- exdusively in hardware, such as within a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other specialized circuit. Accordingly, the term “executable component” is a term for a structure that is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art of computing, whether implemented in software, hardware, or a combination. Any embodiments herein are described with reference to acts that are performed by one or more processing units of the computing system. If such acts are implemented in software, one or more processors direct the operation of the computing system in response to having executed computer-executable instructions that constitute an executable component. Computing system may also contain communication channels that allow the computing system to communicate with other computing systems over, for example, network.

[0110] A “network” is defined as one or more data links that enable the transport of electronic data between computing systems and / or modules and / or other electronic devices. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection, for example, either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless, to a computing system, the computing system properly views the connection as a transmission medium. Transmission media can include a network and / or data links which can be used to carry desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computing system or combinations. While not all computing systems require a user interface, in some embodiments, the computing system includes a user interface system for use in interfacing with a user. User interfaces act as input or output mechanism to users for instance via displays.

[0111] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that at least parts of the disclosure may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computing system configurations, including, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, pagers, routers, switches, datacenters, wearables, such as glasses, and the like. The disclosure may also be practiced in distributed system environments where local and remote computing system, which are linked, for example, either by hardwired data links, wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless data links, through a network, both perform tasks. In a distributed system environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

[0112] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that at least parts of the disclosure may be practiced in a cloud computing environment. Cloud computing environments may be distributed, although this is not required. When distributed, cloud computing environments may be distributed internationally within an organization and / or have components possessed across multiple organizations. In this description and the following claims, “cloud computing” is defined as a model for enabling on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources, e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services. The definition of “cloud computing” is not limited to any of the other numerous advantages that can be obtained from such a model when deployed. The computing systems of the figures include various components or functional blocks that may implement the various embodiments disclosed herein as explained. The various components or functional blocks may be implemented on a local computing system or may be implemented on a distributed computing system that includes elements resident in the cloud or that implement aspects of cloud computing. The various components or functional blocks may be implemented as software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The computing systems shown in the figures may include more or less than the components illustrated in the figures and some of the components may be combined as circumstances warrant.

[0113] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Computer implemented method (500) for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant (100) configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials (W) in one or more different recycling processes (102a, 102b, 102c), the method comprising: receiving (502) material attribute data (AD) associated with attribute values (A, B, C) of recycled waste material (103) based on the recycling processes used for recycling; providing (504) a plurality of virtual tanks (VT1, VT2, VTn), each associated with respective tank attribute data (TA1 , TA2, TAn) related to a respective set of attributes values; digitally assigning (506) the recycled waste material (103) to at least one of the virtual tanks (VT1 , VT2, VTn), based on the material attribute data (A1-Ai, B1-Bj, C 1 -Ck) associated with the recycled waste material (103) and the tank attribute data (TA1 , TA2, TAn); receiving (508) material request data (RD) indicative of a request by a requesting entity (108) for requested recycled waste material (109) with a set of target attribute values (TAV); controlling and / or monitoring the chemical recycling plant by digitally allocating (510) requested recycled waste material (109) from the plurality of virtual tanks (VT1, VT2, VTn) to the requesting entity (108) based on the set of attributes values (TA1, TA2, TAn) of the plurality of virtual tanks and the set of target attribute values (TAV).

2. The method (500) of claim 1 , wherein the virtual tanks (VT1 , VT2, VTn) are further associated with filling data (F1 , F2, Fn) related to a quantity value of the recycled waste materials (103) assigned to the respective virtual tank (VT1 , VT2, VTn), and wherein the method further comprises: updating (512) the filling data (F1 , F2, Fn) of the virtual tanks based on the requested recycled waste material allocated to the requesting entity.

3. The method (500) of claim 1 , wherein the material attribute data (AD) comprises input material data (MD) associated with material attributes (MA1 , MA3) of the recyclable waste material (W) and / or process data (PD) associated with the recycling process (102a, 102b, 102c) applied to the recyclable waste material (W) for obtaining the recycled waste material (103) and / or recycled material data (OD) associated with material attributes of the recycled waste material (103).

4. The method (500) of claim 3, wherein the input material data (MD) associated with material attributes (MA1 , MA2) of the recyclable waste material includes data indicative of one or more of: composition of the recyclable waste material source of the recyclable waste material; and environmental impact attribute associated with the recyclable waste material and / or wherein the process data associated with the recycling process applied to the recyclable waste material includes data indicative of one or more of:type of the recycling process; operation parameters of the recycling process; and environmental impact attribute associated with the recycling process; and / or wherein the recycled material data associated with material attributes of the recycled waste material includes data indicative of one or more of: composition of the recycled waste material; a quality attribute recycled waste material; and environmental impact attribute associated with recycled waste material.

5. The method (500) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the material request data (RD) comprises priority data (P1 , P2, P3) associated with an orderable attribute, and wherein the method further comprises: allocating (514) the requested recycled waste material to the requesting entity (108) further based on the respective priority data (P1, P2, P3).

6. The method (500) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the material request data (RD) comprises environmental impact data associated to a required environmental impact attribute value, and wherein the method further comprises: allocating the requested recycled waste material (109) to the requesting entity (108) further based on the environmental impact data.

7. The method (500) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising: providing (518) control signals (CS) for controlling the provision (110) of the requested recycled waste material allocated to the corresponding requesting entity.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising: generating certification data (CD) associated with at least a subset of the attribute values of the requested recycled waste material (109); and providing (520) the generated certification data (CD) to the requesting entity (108).

9. Controller unit (100) for controlling and / or monitoring a chemical recycling plant (100) configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste materials (W) in one or more different recycling processes (102a, 102b, 102c), the controller unit (200) comprising: a material attribute data receiving unit (202) configured to receive material attribute data (AD) associated with attribute values (A, B, C) of the recycled waste material (103) based on the recycling processes used for recycling; and a virtual tank management unit (204) configured to provide a plurality of virtual tanks (VT1, VT2, VTn) each associated with tank attribute data (TA1, TA2, TAn) related to a respective set of attributes values;to digitally assign the recycled waste material (103) to at least one of the virtual tanks (VT 1 , VT2, VT n) based on the material attribute data (A1-Ai, B1 -Bj, C1-Ck) associated with the recycled waste material (103) and the tank attribute data (TA1 , TA2, TAn); to receive material request data (RD) indicative of a request by a requesting entity (108) for requested recycled waste material (109) with a set of target attribute values (TAV); and to control and / or monitor the chemical recycling plant by digitally allocating requested recycled waste material (109) from the plurality of virtual tanks (VT1 , VT2, VTn) to the requesting entity (108) based on the set of attributes values (TA1 , TA2, TAn) of the plurality of virtual tanks and the set of target attribute values (TAV).

10. The controller unit (200) of claim 9, wherein the material request data comprises environmental impact data associated with a required environmental impact attribute value, and wherein the virtual tank management unit (204) is further configured to allocate the requested recycled material waste to the requesting entity further based on the environmental impact data.

11. The controller unit (200) of claim 9 or 10, wherein the virtual tank management unit (204) is further configured to provide control signals (CS) for controlling the provision (110) of the requested recycled waste material allocated to the corresponding requesting entity (108).

12. The controller of any of the preceding claims 9 to 11 , wherein the virtual tank management unit (204) is further configured to generate certification data (CD) associated with at least a subset of the attribute values of the requested recycled waste material (109); and to provide the generated certification data to the requesting entity.

13. Chemical recycling plant (100) configured to recycle a plurality of recyclable waste material (W) in one or more different recycling processes (102a, 102b, 102c), the chemical recycling plant comprising: a controller unit in accordance with any of the claims 9 to 11 ; and one or more of recycling units (S 1 , S2, S3, S4) associated with the one or more different recycling processes for providing recycled material waste (103).

14. The chemical recycling plant of claim 10, wherein the one or more different recycling processes (102a, 102b, 102c) include one or more chemical recycling processes selected from: a pyrolysis process; a cracking process; a gasification process; an acidolysis process; a hydrogenation process;a solvent-based process; a depolymerization process; and a mechanical recycling process.

15. Computer program product comprising instructions, which when executed by a controller unit of a chemical recycling plant, cause the controller unit to carry out the computer implemented method of any of the preceding claims 1 to 8.

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