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Tyre Recycling - Revolutionary Pyrolysis Process TRU

Every year the world produces over 1 billion used tyres. Only a small portion of these tyres are recycled.

In Australia only 5% of used tyres go through a recycling process. 13% are dumped illegally, and the remaining 57% of tyres go to landfill.
This is by far the worst option environmentally.
Without sunlight a tyre takes up to 30,000 years to degrade, taking up valuable space, providing havens for vermin and mosquitoes, and posing a fire hazard.

Tyre recycling efforts have increased over recent years with some Governments giving initiatives and passing laws to assist the tyre recycling market

A tyre takes up to 30,000 years to degrade. Tyre recycling is important
A tyre takes up to 30,000 years to degrade. Tyre recycling is important

Due to the high calorific value in tyre scrap, the most beneficial, and profitable resource recovery option for recycling tyres is TRU Pyrolysis.

TRU Pyrolysis refers to the thermal decomposition of scrap tires in the absence of oxygen. This recycling process aims to recover the carbon black, and steel, and also captures the hydrocarbons as syngas.

The TRU pyrolysis process then combusts this syngas in a safe, controlled environment resulting in a high thermal output which can be used for generating steam and electricity.

Tyre recycling through a TRU plant would first involve shredding the tyres, magnetically removing the steal, and them crumbing the tyres to a particle size of less than 3cm.
This tyre crumb can then be fed directly into the hopper of the TRU. The tyre crumb then passes through a rotary airlock before entering into the primary retort.

One TRU is capable of processing up to 2 tonnes of rubber crumb per hour. Multiple units can be deployed to process larger volumes for tyre recycling.

The Syngas from the TRU process has a very high calorific value and will create thermal energy that may be used for steam, and power production.
Further to this, the TRU recovers up to 38% of the tyres weight in Carbon char. This carbon char may be used as activated carbon, or carbon black.

Tyre Recycling Benefits:

  • Tyres produce the same amount of energy as oil and 25% more energy than coal.
  • Tyre recycling through a TRU results in lower NOx emissions when compared to many coals, particularly the high-sulfur coals.
  • The steal belts may also be removed and recycled.

Tyres are composed of:

  • Vulkanised rubber with reinforcing textile cords.
  • Steel or fabricbelts and steel wire reinforcing beads.
  • Carbon black, which is used to strengthen the rubber and aid abrasion resistance.
  • Extender oil, which is a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons and serves to soften the rubber and improve work ability.
  • Sulphur which is used to cross- link the polymer chains within the rubber and also to harden and prevent excessive deformation at elevated temperatures.
  • Organo-sulphur compound, added as a catalyst for the vulcanisation process.
  • Stearic acid used to control the vulcanisation process and to enhance the physical properties of the rubber.
  • Zinc oxide