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15 August 2012

Pyrolysis Tires Methods Are Not New Things At All

By Yesenia Velez


Pyrolysis tires methods are not a new thing at all. Such methods of recycling tires have been around for a long time. The technique used involves heating of tires either in shredded form or as complete tires.

Heat is generated inside a reactor vessel in which oxygen has been completely removed though a source of heat still is present. The reactor, through the heat produced, will soften up the rubber which will be broken down on a continuous basis with the help of rubber polymers. This results in reducing the rubber to small molecules.

After some time, these molecules vaporize and exit the reactor. The escaped vapor is then directly burnt so as to produce power. The vapor can also be condensed to form liquids that are oily and which are suitable for use as fuels. However, the tiniest molecules cannot be vaporized because their tiny size does not allow for vaporization. They become gases which become fuels that can be burnt up.

The round rubber objects also contain about forty percent of minerals. These will be removed in the form of solids. The pyrolysis tires method is very clean and does not produce waste or give out any emissions

The type of feedstock and process conditions used will affect the production of different properties of liquid, gases and solids. If the tire has not been shredded then its fibers and its steel will have to be processed. On the other hand, shredded tires are made up mostly of steel and have less fiber. These too need to be eliminated in the process.

The pyrolysis tires process can be of two types. It can be continuous or in batch mode. To help decompose the rubber, proper energy is required. This energy can be obtained from a gas oven or from directly fired fuel. It can also be obtained through electrical induction like by using an electrically heated oven. Even microwave energy from a microwave oven can be used to supply the required energy.

The decomposition of materials can be quickened by making use of catalysts. It is also important to make use of the right kind of feed stock and processes. The correct combination will determine the final outcome and quality of the finished product. The major worries about using pyrolysis tires methods are handling of the solid minerals stream which makes up forty percent of the entire output.

Steel can easily be removed from the solid stream. Magnets can be used to achieve desired results. However, Char which is another solid is only important for burning as low grade carbon fuel. Char is actually carbon black that has been destroyed and is present because it was used for reinforcing and supplying abrasion to the rubber.

The minerals in the solid streams were added at the time when the rubber tires were being manufactured. Pyrolysis tires process involves many components and it is this that has made the final process less than economically viable. However, some companies have come up with better solutions. Time will tell if such companies can help others to also make the process more viable.




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