CHEMREC I – 2024: 1st International Conference on Thermochemical Recycling of Plastics

April 28 – May 2, 2024
Malaga, Spain

Register Now
(Early Bird Deadline: March 22, 2024)

Your poster should be no larger than
1.5 meter high and 1.0 meter wide (Portrait Style)

About This Conference

The conference will be a forum for discussion of the advances in thermochemical technologies for chemical recycling of plastic and plastic waste (e.g., pyrolysis, gasification, hydrogenolysis). The refining and/or upgrading of resulting product intermediates using standalone facilities or co-processed taking advantage of existing infrastructure will be also an important topic for this conference.

Final products are derived after proper fractionation, isolation, purification and/or upgrading, and contributions addressing the processing to marketable materials, chemicals and fuels are especially invited. This discussion will include techno-economic analyses and life cycle assessments.

The conference will also offer a platform to those who are able to report on commercially successful processes.

ChemRec I will be the first conference exclusively dedicated to thermochemical processing of plastic waste, and thus will be an important event to foster friendly and deep face-to-face discussions that could further catalyze the growth of this industry.

Conference Organization

Co-Chairs

Main Themes and Format

1. Characterization and pretreatment of plastic waste feedstocks (e.g., for contaminants removal).
2. Fundamentals of pyrolysis, liquefaction, gasification and catalytic depolymerization technologies (reaction mechanisms, reaction kinetics, product selectivity, effects of heat and mass transfer limitations, catalysis).
3. Reactor development and modelling (testing and modelling of lab-scale units)
4. Process development and integration (testing of fully continuous laboratory setups and pilot installations providing a full mass balance closure, including pre-treatment, reaction and product separation).
5. Product characterization, separation and upgrading (refers to chemical characterization, isolation, purification and post treatment / upgrading of the products from pyrolysis or liquefaction to e.g., remove contaminants/impurities.
6. Successful demonstration, scale-up and commercialization

The format of the conference will be the “retreat-style Banff-format”. There will be no parallel sessions to allow all participants to be exposed and contribute to all presentations. Apart from 4 plenary lectures of 30 minutes each, the regular contributions will consist of short oral presentations (10~15 minutes + 2 min for change of speaker). Each presentation, however, will also be accompanied by a poster, to be presented normally during the social hour after dinner. The poster session will allow ample time for questions and answers and informal discussion between presenter and interested participants. Additional free-forum poster presentations will also be invited.

Networking time will be allowed during each afternoon. This will allow participants to engage in informal discussions and to spend time together enjoying the many beautiful outdoors activities available in the region.

Keynote Speakers

Call for Abstracts

Original papers for presentations at the above listed sessions are invited. If you wish to be considered for an oral or poster presentation, please submit a one-page abstract.  All abstracts will be reviewed by the session chairs. 

Deadlines

Abstracts submission for oral presentation: February 10, 2024
Abstract reviews: February 2024

Abstracts submission for poster presentations: February 29, 2024
Call for Free-Forum posters: Ongoing until April 30, 2024

Please prepare your abstract according to this template: docx or doc.

All abstracts should be submitted electronically and submissions must follow the template provided at This Link.

Abstracts of all presentations will be made available to conference participants prior to the start of the conference.

Graduate students and young investigators are particularly encouraged to present posters. An evening poster session will be an integral part of the conference. If an abstract has multiple authors, each of whom wishes an invitation to attend the conference, each author must submit a separate application.

Publications

(1) The optional publication of PowerPoint presentations delivered at the Conference in the ECI Digital Archives.

(2) Selected abstracts from this conference will be invited to submit a full paper in a Special Issue on Recent Advances in Thermochemical Recycling of Plastics, in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Energy & Fuels.

Conference Fees and Registration

Conference Fees

The conference fee includes the following: conference registration, accommodations (nights of Sunday (April 28), Monday (April 29), Tuesday (April 30), and Wednesday (May 1), with check-out on Thursday (May 2)), as well as most meals (Monday and Tuesday dinner are on your own, providing an opportunity to explore dining options outside of the hotel), taxes, and gratuities from the reception and dinner on Sunday through breakfast on Thursday.  Incidental fees (telephone calls, spa, laundry, minibar etc.) are billed to your personal account by the hotel.

ALL PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AND INVITED SPEAKERS) ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER.

The conference fees are:

	Register on or before March 22, 2024	Register after  March 22, 2024
Participant (single occupancy or sharing room with a guest; guest fee additional)	US $2,510	US $2,710
Participant (sharing a room with another participant)	US $2,075	US $2,275
Bona fide Graduate Student (sharing a room with another student) The student rate applies to individuals who have not yet obtained their doctoral degree.  (Those in this category must upload proof of current status during registration – copy of current Student ID or a letter from your University confirming your student status.)	US $1,660	US $1,860
Bona fide Graduate Student (single occupancy or sharing room with a guest; guest fee additional) The student rate applies to individuals who have not yet obtained their doctoral degree.  (Those in this category must upload proof of current status during registration – copy of current Student ID or a letter from your University confirming your student status.)	US $2,095	US $2,295
**Fees for Guest/accompanying person sharing bedroom with a participant. (Includes all conference included meals) Guests/accompanying persons may not attend technical sessions.	US $630	US $630
**Fees for Guest/accompanying person sharing bedroom with a participant. (Bed & Breakfast ONLY, NO other meals) Guests/accompanying persons may not attend technical sessions.	US $70	US $70

If you plan to bring children to the conference, please contact Renee Smith for pricing.

Conference Registration

Register Now

You will need a login name and password to register for ECI conferences through our online system. If you have been a recent participant at an ECI conference or have submitted an online application or request for information about an ECI Conference, you may already have an account with us. If you know your login information, please use it. If you are not sure whether you already have a login and password, please click on automated password retrieval and enter your e-mail address before creating a new account. If we don’t have a valid email address on file for you, a pop-up window will appear stating that no records were found. Click “OK” and then follow the instructions to create a new account. If you have any questions or experience any difficulties, please email Renee Smith.

Special Notes and Payment Instructions

We suggest that you register as soon as possible to be certain that you will have a hotel room at the conference rate.  

All participants are encouraged to register before March 22, 2024.  There is a discounted price for registering before this date.  Hotel space cannot be guaranteed for registrations received after March 29, 2023.  Your registration is not officially confirmed until we receive payment of the amount due.  ECI reserves the right to cancel your room registration if payment is not received. Your invoice/receipt will automatically be e-mailed upon of receipt of your registration.  Should you need a signed receipt or a certificate of attendance (sent after the conclusion of the conference), please contact Renee Smith.

Because of contractual guarantees made with the hotel for room and meal functions, no shows, late arrivals, missed meals and early departures cannot receive fee adjustments.  If you have a disability and may require accommodation in order to participate fully in this conference, please indicate this when you register. An ECI representative will contact you to discuss your specific needs. If you have special dietary requirements (e.g., vegetarian or a food allergy), please make a note on your registration.  The chef needs to know this information in advance if we are to accommodate you. ECI will attempt to accommodate special requests such as Kosher or Halal meals, but such meals may not be available at all conference sites. The participant must pay any additional costs for special meal requests that ECI pays a surcharge for.

Payment must be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and Amex), check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars, payable to ENGINEERING CONFERENCES INTERNATIONAL. Checks or money orders in any other currencies are NOT ACCEPTABLE.  Payment must be made on the web site except for those who are sending payment by wire transfer or have a purchase order from their company/institution.

WIRE TRANSFER PAYMENT: If you are planning to make payment by wire transfer, please contact Renee Smith for the bank information. You must add $30 to cover ECI bank charges. Please reference your full name and the conference title.  Please email a scanned copy to Renee Smith.  This is very important – otherwise it is extremely difficult to trace your payment and you may not receive a receipt prior to the conference.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation must be received by ECI in writing at least 28 days prior to the start of the conference in order for a full refund (less a processing fee) to be considered. The ECI auditors require that refunds for all conference cancellations be processed after the conference so that the necessary back-up information (e.g., hotel list of those in-house) can be attached to the refund request and ECI can verify that the hotel has not charged a cancellation fee.

Cancellation fees:

• Cancellations received more than 28 days prior to the conference start date are subject to a processing fee of 4% of the total fee, plus any direct expenses incurred by ECI.
• Cancellations received 15 – 28 days prior to the conference start date are subject to a $250 cancellation fee plus any direct expenses incurred by ECI.
• Cancellations received 8 – 14 days prior to the conference start date are subject to a $500 cancellation fee plus any direct expenses incurred by ECI.
• No refunds will be issued for cancellations received less than 7 days prior to the conference start date.
• No refunds will be issued due to inclement weather or travel disruptions/cancellations.

Registrations may be transferred without incurring any penalty or cancellation fee.

Denied or delayed visa

If a participant is forced to cancel due to a denied or delayed entry visa, ECI will issue a full refund if ECI has been notified of a potential visa issue at least four weeks prior to the conference start date.

Change of payment method

If an attendee who has already paid the conference fee with a credit card requests that the fee be refunded to that card so that it can be paid in a different manner (e.g., charged to an alternate credit card, or paid via check or bank transfer), a processing fee of 4% of the total fee amount will apply.

Disclaimer

It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of ECI to alter the content and timing of the program or the identity of the speakers. In the unfortunate circumstance that an event is cancelled, ECI is not liable for any costs incurred by participants in connection with their attendance.

Smoking is prohibited at ECI conferences and conference functions. 

Should you have specific questions regarding your registration, please contact Renee Smith.

Pre and Post Conference Reservation Form

If you are arriving early or staying after the conference and wish to extend your stay in the conference hotel, please download and complete the Pre/Post Conference Reservation form posted below and send it directly to the conference hotel. ECI does not guarantee or pay for rooms reserved before or after the conference – you must reserve extra nights directly with the hotel and you are responsible for paying the hotel directly for any extra nights.

Form coming soon!

Venue Information

The conference will be held at the NH Hotel Malaga (Calle San Jacinto 2, 29007 Malaga, Spain).  The hotel is approximately a 15-minute drive from the airport and offers free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, AC/climate control, and a gym.  Renovated in 2019, it is located on the Riverwalk in the center of Malaga near shops, restaurants and tourist attractions.  It is close to the river with views of Esperanza Church.  It features outward facing rooms and soundproof windows.

The geographical location of Malaga is in the South of Europe.  It is the capital of the Costa del Sol and one of the major cities in Spain.  Its Old Town, with its bustling harbor, has been declared a Historic Artistic Site and Site of Cultural Interest.  The city enjoys a privileged position in what is the leading tourist area in mainland Spain, making it a lively and warm city where art, culture and tradition merge on the shores of the Mediterranean.

 Its three thousand years of history have given it its open, voyager, commercial and hospitable character. It is a cosmopolitan city with an eternal universal aspiration. The city has fantastic natural surroundings, theatres, and museums.  Moreover, there is the varied gastronomic attractions that provide from the most traditional cuisine to the very latest trends, both in the city’s Historical Quarter, or by the waters of the Mediterranean. It is known as Picasso’s City and is now a cultural center in Europe.

The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle

The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle are the main legacy of Malaga’s Arab past. These fortresses, built between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries, represent one of the examples of the era’s best-preserved defensive architecture in Spain. There are fabulous views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea from the castle, which dominates the top of the mountain of the same name.

At the foot of both fortifications the Roman Theatre is located. Built in the times of Emperor Augustus, it hosts shows in a unique environment. It also has an innovative interpretation centre to learn about the life and customs of Roman Hispania.

Catedral de Málaga or de la Encarnación

Nearby is the Catedral de Málaga or de la Encarnación that was designed by Diego de Siloé.

Among the jewels of art held in the temple are the tallas del coro [carvings of the choir], the work by Pedro de Mena.

Architecture

Malaga has a wide range of charming nineteenth-century buildings, such as the Teatro Cervantes, the Palacio de la Aduana or the Plaza de Toros de La Malagueta.  The city’s most iconic street culminates in the plaza de la Constitución, presided over by the Renaissance style Fuente de Génova. From here one can admire the picturesque Pasaje de Chinitas, the Casa del Consulado and the Ateneo de Malaga, the old school where Picasso began to draw.

Museo Picasso Málaga 

The most important cultural area of the capital is dedicated to the Malaga genius. Nestled in the Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista, built in 1520, the Museo Picasso Málaga is the answer to the artist’s desire to exhibit some of his work in his hometown. The permanent collection is made up of more than two hundred paintings, sculptures and ceramics.

Casa Natal de Picasso 

Next to the museum is the Casa Natal de Picasso (the artist’s birthplace), on the corner of the Plaza de la Merced, and the Iglesia de Santiago, where Picasso was baptised in 1881. The temple was built on an ancient mosque and has a Moorish tower initially conceived as a minaret.

Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga

The city also has one of the most valuable painting collections in Spain: the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga. Located in the Palacio de Villalon, there are more than two hundred works in the country’s most representative collection of nineteenth century Andalusian art sample.

Centre Pompidou de Málaga

Another must for art lovers is the Centre Pompidou de Málaga, the first one built outside of France. This space is dedicated to avant-garde creations, in the same way as the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga, housed in an old market near the river Guadalmedina.

General Information About ECI

Engineering Conferences International (ECI) is a not-for-profit, global engineering conferences program, originally established in 1962 that provides opportunities for the exploration of problems and issues of concern to engineers and scientists from many disciplines.

The format of the conference provides morning and late afternoon or evening sessions in which major presentations are made. Poster sessions will be scheduled for evening discussion as well. Available time is included during the afternoons for ad hoc meetings, informal discussions, and/or recreation. This format is designed to enhance rapport among participants and promote dialogue on the development of the meeting. We believe the conferences have been instrumental in generating ideas and disseminating information to a greater extent than is possible through more conventional forums.

All participants are expected both to attend the entire conference and to contribute actively to the discussions. The recording/photographing of lectures and presentations is forbidden. As ECI conferences take place in an informal atmosphere, casual clothing is the usual attire.

Smoking is prohibited at ECI conferences and conference functions.