Vadxx Energy

Vadxx Energy, founded in 2009, is a clean-tech company specializing in the conversion of plastic waste into synthetic crude oil and other petroleum products. The venture was initiated by petroleum geologist and geochemist William L. Ullom, who serves as the Chief Technology Officer, and Jim Garrett, the CEO, who brought his extensive experience in financial, operational, and engineering management within the energy and technology sectors to the company. Ullom's work was inspired by an expired patent from the 1990s for a thermal depolymerization process, which he significantly improved upon to develop Vadxx's proprietary technology.

The company's core business revolves around a process called thermal depolymerization, which converts a wide range of plastic feedstocks, including both recyclable and non-recyclable plastics, into energy products. This process involves shredding the plastic material and then heating it in a closed vessel, which melts the plastic into a vapor. This vapor is then cooled and condensed back into a liquid, yielding products such as synthetic crude oil, diesel stock, naphtha, and a solid byproduct called char, which can be used as a strengthening agent in rubber products. The process is designed to be continuous-flow and environmentally friendly, with the EPA classifying the operational units as minor emitters. A portion of the synthetic natural gas produced is recycled to power the unit itself.

Vadxx Energy's business model includes both operating its own facilities and licensing its technology to other entities. The company's first commercial-scale plant was established in Akron, Ohio, with a capacity to process approximately 60 tons of plastic waste per day, producing around 125,000 barrels of fuel annually. Its clients are primarily energy resellers and petroleum refiners who purchase the converted fuel products. The modular design of their plants, developed in partnership with Rockwell Automation, allows for flexible construction on as little as three acres of land. In a significant development, the company, which now appears to operate as Alterra Energy, has attracted investment from major players like Neste and is expanding its reach with planned facilities in Europe and along the US Gulf Coast.

Keywords: plastic to oil, thermal depolymerization, waste to energy, chemical recycling, plastic waste conversion, EcoFuels, synthetic crude oil, advanced recycling, circular economy, waste management solutions, renewable energy, plastics recycling, pyrolysis, cleantech, sustainable technology, resource recovery, industrial waste, petrochemical, naphtha production, diesel additive