Cyclize converts mixed plastic waste and CO₂ into recyclable synthesis gas via plasma reforming.
Cyclize GmbH
Leinfelden-Echterdingen · Stuttgart · SchwedtNew on Amplifa
About Cyclize
Cyclize GmbH is a deep-tech company and spin-off of the University of Stuttgart that is defossilizing the chemical industry. Using a patented plasma reforming process, the company converts non-recyclable mixed plastic waste and CO₂ into synthesis gas (a CO/H₂ mixture) that can replace fossil natural gas as a feedstock for plastics, methanol, hydrogen and e-fuels. The non-thermal plasma technology is based on in-house developed plasma drivers with efficiencies of up to 98 percent. The technology was scaled from 30 W via 350 W and 2.5 kW to the 50 kW pilot plant at the Technical Center in Stuttgart; a containerized plasma plant is in continuous operation at the PCK refinery site in Schwedt. Partners and customers include PCK Raffinerie, Verbio, Elm, Repotec, Elplatek, Ovako, ArcelorMittal and Siemens. Together with Siemens, a modular energy system was developed to supply the plasma reactors from the medium-voltage grid. Founded in 2023, the company with more than 20 employees plans to build the first full-scale plant (FOAK) at a German chemical site.
- Site
- Leinfelden-Echterdingen
- Processes
- Plasma reforming (non-thermal plasma) of mixed waste and CO₂ into synthesis gas, CO₂ splitting by means of Glow-to-Arc-Discharge (GAD) plasma with hollow-fiber membrane, Plasma reforming of mixed waste and CO₂ into syngas, Waste-to-value recycling of hard-to-recycle waste streams, CO₂ utilization / plasma-membrane technology (P2M2X project), Modular energy system for plasma reactors (with Siemens)
- Materials
- Mixed plastic waste (non-recyclable plastic waste), CO₂, Synthesis gas (CO/H₂ mixture), Mixed plastic waste, Glow-to-Arc-Discharge plasma with hollow-fiber membrane
- Founded
- 2023
- Employees
- 20+
- Industries
- Chemical industry, Plastic recycling, Energy sector
- 01
Acceptance of hard-to-recycle mixed waste and CO₂
- 02
Plasma reforming with non-thermal plasma (plasma drivers)
- 03
Production of recyclable synthesis gas (CO/H₂)
- 04
Supply as a drop-in feedstock for the chemical industry
Feedstocks and Processes
Mixed plastic waste
Non-recyclable plastic waste serves as the carbon-containing feedstock for plasma reforming.
CO₂
Carbon dioxide is used as a second feedstock and converted into synthesis gas together with waste.
Synthesis gas (CO/H₂ mixture)
The synthesis gas produced replaces natural gas-based synthesis gas for plastics, methanol, hydrogen and e-fuels.
Glow-to-Arc-Discharge plasma with hollow-fiber membrane
In the P2M2X project, CO₂ splitting with integrated oxygen separation is being developed in a plasma-membrane reactor.
Locations
Leinfelden-Echterdingen
DECompany headquarters (Taxiswald 9)
Stuttgart
DETechnical Center and office (Julius-Hölder Straße 14)
- Materials
- Mixed plastic waste, CO₂
- Plasma reactor pilot plant (50 kW electrical power, 2025)
- Plasma drivers
Schwedt
DEPilot plant at the PCK refinery site
- Materials
- Mixed plastic waste, CO₂
- Containerized plasma plant in continuous operation
Services and Plants
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plasma reforming (non-thermal plasma) of mixed waste and CO₂ into synthesis gasOther (chemical processes / plasma technology) | – | – | – | – | Mixed plastic waste, CO₂, complex mixed waste, industrial waste |
| CO₂ splitting by means of Glow-to-Arc-Discharge (GAD) plasma with hollow-fiber membraneOther (chemical processes / plasma technology) | – | – | – | – | CO₂ |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plasma reactor (pilot plant, electrical power 50 kW) | Cyclize | – | – | 2025 | Stuttgart (Technical Center) |
| Containerized plasma plant (pilot, in continuous operation) | Cyclize | – | – | – | PCK refinery Schwedt |
| Plasma driver (plasma driver, electrical power) | Cyclize | – | – | – | Stuttgart |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2019
Start as a research project on CO₂ splitting for synthetic marine fuels
- 2020
First in-house developed power supply: 30 W plasma driver
- 2021
Proof-of-principle at 350 W
- 2022
EXIST research transfer grant; scaling of the plasma drivers to 2.5 kW
- 2023
Proof-of-concept for syngas production from waste and CO₂; founding of the GmbH
- 2024
Seed financing of €4.75 million, led by UVC Partners
- 2025
Proof-of-Plant: pilot plant with 50 kW electrical power
- 2026
Dr. Klaus Schäfer becomes Chief Industrialization Officer (01.10.2026); start of the P2M2X research project (2026–2029)