International Journal of Applied Research 2017; 1(13): 258-262

ISSN Print: 2394-7500

ISSN Online: 2394-5869
Impact Factor: 5.2
A review paper on pyrolysis process of waste tyre
IJAR 2017; 1(13): 258-262
www.allresearchjournal.com
Received: 21-10-2015 Jaswinder Singh
Accepted: 23-11-2015
Abstract
Jaswinder Singh This paper reviews and discusses the waste tyre pyrolysis process and the applications of the derived
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Govt.
products. The study reports the characteristics of used tyre materials and methods of recycling, types
College, Mandi Dabwali, Sirsa
and principles of pyrolysis, the pyrolysis products and their composition. Pyrolysis is considered as a
district, Haryana, India
useful technique for recycling of scrap tyres by using which liquid, gases, carbon black and steel wires
are obtained. This technology could not only reasonably and effectively dispose waste tyre and tube
without pollution, but also is effective in producing fuel that can reduce energy crisis. The primary and
secondary applications of oil, char, gas and steel wires are discussed.

Keywords: Pyrolysis, Proximate Analysis, Elemental Analysis, Incarnations, Retreading.

1. Introduction
The disposal of waste tyre has become a major environmental concern globally and this can
be attributed to the increase in automobile usage as well as population especially in areas of
large population and highly industrialized nations. The problems caused by the waste tyres is
majorly because they are not biodegradable and can last for several decades if no proper
handling is carried out. A number of studies related to tyre pyrolysis had been reported in the
literature for its conversion into valuable compounds. Developed countries have been paying
great attention to the effective utilization of discarded tyres to achieve the goals of protecting
environment, recycling resources and preserving energy. For many reasons, recycling of
waste rubber has received much attention in recent years all over the world, due to the
present rate of economic growth in utilization of the fossil energy fuels like, crude oil,
natural gas or coal without saving for the future. Waste tyres have a high content of volatile
matters as well as fixed carbon that makes them an interesting solid as a fuel for energy
production or hydrogenation processes and in pyrolysis processes to obtain different
fractions of soild, liquid and gaseous products.

2. Need of Waste Tyre Recycling

On one hand, with the modernization of the society, rubber industry is developing at a rapid
speed, rubber manufactures products are widely used, on the other hand, the pollutant of
waste rubber is increasing day by day and its decomposing is very difficult, which is called
as "Black Contamination". This has become a big threat to the environment. Compared to the
developed countries, we are still lack of experiences in treating the pollution; the capital and
the market are also big problems.
Nowadays, the output of tyre in India is more than 1.3 billion, i.e. the third in all over the
world. The scrap tyres for each year are 65 million, and are increasing steadily year by year.
So to set up a factory in each town, which could extract black carbon and tyre oil from 65-
million scrap tyre, it is easy to find the raw material. The composition of passenger vehicle
tyres is approximately 85% carbon, 10–15% fabric materials and 0.9–1.25% sulfur. The
typical percentages of the rubber mix are 55% synthetic rubber (polybutadiene) and 45%
natural rubber (latex) in passenger vehicle tyres. Thus, the abundant organic matter (OM)
contents of tyres can be converted into useful products for energy sources.
Correspondence
Jaswinder Singh 3. Methods of Waste Tyre Recycling
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Govt. Waste tyres are recycled in different ways which are:
College, Mandi Dabwali, Sirsa 1. Retreading
district, Haryana, India 2. Landfills
~ 258 ~
International Journal of Applied Research

3. using as construction Materials product occurs which could adversely affect bio-oil yield
4. Incarnations and quality.
5. Tyre Derived Fuel (Tyre Pyrolysis)
4.1.2 Fast Pyrolysis
Retread is a manufacturing process designed to extend the Fast pyrolysis involves the rapid heating of the feed material
lifespan of worn out tyres. The old tread is removed and a to a high temperature in the absence of oxygen with a short
new tread is applied to the bare casing using specialized residence time of the condensable vapor in the reactor. Its
tools. This procedure is regularly carried out in airplane operating parameters are solid residence time between 0.5
tyres as they are worn out very frequently and the necessity and 10s, heating rate of 10–200 oC, feed particle size less
for them to be in good condition. On an average 4.5 gallons than 5 mm, and reaction temperature of 550–1200 oC. The
of oil is saved through this process compared to technology has received much popularity in producing
manufacture of a new tyre. In case of commercial vehicles, liquid fuels and a range of specialty and commodity
the savings can go upto 12.5 gallons of oil. chemicals. Typically on weight basis, fast pyrolysis yields
Land filling is the most common way of disposing waste 60%–75% pyro oil with 15%–25% compared to other
tyres, accounting up to 53% of the total waste tyre processes; it has reasonably low investment costs and high
generated. But it has a serious impact on land usage, fertility energy efficiencies particularly on a small scale.
of land and is a potential hazard as it is prone to fires. Tyres
are very difficult to extinguish when they catch fire. Citing 4.1.3 Flash Pyrolysis
this many countries have banned this form of disposal of This process is characterized by residence time of less than
waste tyres. 0.5 s, high heating rate of more than 200 oC, particle size of
Incineration and TDF are two wastes to energy technologies less than 0.2 mm, and high reaction temperature of more
that are available for the treatment of waste tyres. In than 1000 oC. However, the major technological challenge
incineration, energy recovery systems are used to recover of the process is poor thermal stability, solids in the oil, and
the energy. TDF or tyre derived fuel the energy remains in a production of pyrolytic water.
liquid form that can be used in combustors, IC engine etc.
4.1.4 Catalytic Pyrolysis
4. Pyrolysis Process Catalytic pyrolysis is a pyrolysis process that includes the
Pyrolysis is one of the methods to derive alternative fuels, in use of a catalyst. The catalyst helps enhance the pyrolysis
which organic substances are converted into useful energy. reaction kinetics by cracking down higher molecular weight
It is a thermo chemical conversion process in which an hydrocarbon compounds to lighter hydrocarbon products. It
irreversible chemical change is caused by the action of heat has been reported that the use of catalyst in tyre pyrolysis
in absence of oxygen. This process yields value added systems can greatly influence the composition, quality, and
products such as fuels or chemicals in the form of solid, yield of products. Examples of catalysts used in tyre
liquid or gas. Without oxygen, the process splits the pyrolysis include Na2CO3, NaOH, MgO, CaCO3,
chemical bonds and leaves the energy stored in the organic aluminium-based catalyst, perlite, CaC2, Cu(NO3)2, etc.
substance. The main advantages of pyrolysis include Operating conditions can determine different product
compactness, simple equipment, low pressure operation, distribution for different catalysts. Pyrolysis catalyst can be
negligible waste product and high energy conversion grouped based on their method of application. The first
efficiency of the order of 83%. group is when the catalyst is added to the feedstock before
The oil obtained after pyrolysis is termed as Tyre Pyrolysis being fed into the reactor. The second group is when
Oil (TPO). Pyrolysis of tyres yields liquid fuel, gases, catalyst is added after the feed is already heated up in the
carbon black and steel wires. Tyre Pyrolysis Oil can be reactor allowing it to have immediate contact with vapors,
directly used as fuel in Combustors and IC engines. solid, and char. The third group is when the catalyst is
Although using in such systems is effective, the complex placed in another reactor located downstream from the
composition poses huge challenges for use of TPO as a pyrolysis reactor.
combustion fuel. Presence of Phenolic, Quinoline and PAH
compounds leads to high emissions and high maintenance 4.2 Pyrolysis Process Detail
cost. The procedure is simply depicted below in figure 1

4.1 Types of Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis process can be performed under different
operating conditions which can be used in classifying it.
They are differentiated by residence time of the pyrolysed
material in the reactor, process temperature, feed particle
size, heating rate etc. These include the following

4.1.1 Slow Pyrolysis

The solid residence time(s) in the reactor is 450–550s,
heating rate is 0.1–1, and feed particle size (mm) is 5–50
with temperature (oC) of 550–950. This process enhances
char production and is unlikely to be unsuitable for high
quality bio-oil production. Also, due to high residence time
secondary reaction is favorable as cracking of primary
Fig 1: Pyrolysis Process of Waste Tyre
~ 259 ~
International Journal of Applied Research

The waste tyres are collected and segregated. Then the tyres The thermal efficiency of this process is approximately
are cut into small pieces and steel wires, fabric fibers were 70%, and can increase to 90% with the use of pyrolytic
removed. Thick outer edges of the tyres were divided into products as fuel. The use of tyre chips instead of whole tyres
small slices. These tyre slices were washed, dried and then may also increase the efficiency of the process by 20-30%.
filled in the pyrolysis reactor vessel and initial heat is The speed of the process and rate of heat transfer also
provided with the help of wood, gas, coal or oil under influences the product distribution. Slow pyrolysis
controlled conditions of temperature and pressure. (carbonization) can be used to maximize the yield of solid
Conventional pyrolyis was performed under N2 environment char. This process requires a slow pyrolytic decomposition
and ambient pressure. Most tyre pyrolysis processes operate at low temperatures. Rapid quenching is often used to
within a temperature range of 250–500oC, although some maximize the production of liquid products, by condensing
processes are reported to operate at upto 900 oC. At the gaseous molecules into liquid.
temperatures above approximately 250 oC shredded tyres
release higher amounts of liquid oil products and gases, 4.3 Pyrolysis Product Details
while above 400 oC, the yield of oil and solid tyre-derived 4.3.1 Fuel Oil (40% to 45%)
char may decrease relatively to gas production The process The main product produce by pyrolysis plant is tyre oil
will bring about molecular restructuring of the rubber and (industrial fuel oil). This is used in many industries as a fuel.
convert into the vapors and gases. This vapors and gases There are 2 types of oil we get from the process, one is
will flow into vapor gas separating tank. Then, these normal Tyre oil and other is heavy oil. Heavy oil is about
vaporized gases are passed through heat exchanger and 5% to 7% of Tyre oil. The final percentage of oil is about
convert that vapor into liquid in the form of Tyre oil during 40% to 45% depends on tyre quality. Nowadays there is a
the process, carbon black and steel are also generated. great demand of fuel oil in the market, as every industry
The heat exchanger use water for cooling as a condensing requires fuel for heating purpose.
Medium and this water is re-circulated through process.

Table 1: Pyrolysis Oil Specification Report

S. No Specifications Units Test Results Standard Value (LDO) BIS:1460
1. Kinematic Viscosity At 40°C CST 9.00 2.4– 15.7
2. Acidity, Total mgKOH/gm 0.01 NIL
3. Ash % BY WT 0.005 0.02
4. Flash Point, Coc °C 40 66 MIN.
5. Water Content % BY WT NIL 1.0 MAX.
6. Pour Point °C +6 12 – 18
7. Density At 27°C gm/cc 0.907 TO REPORT
8. Sediments % BY MASS 0.02 0.10
9. Total Sulphur % BY MASS 0.65 1.80
10. Copper Strip Corrosion Test For 3 Hrs At 100°C NO UNITS 1b 1 MAX.
11. Gross Calorific Value KCAL/KG 10,200 ABV.10000

Applications of pyrolysis oil- (Used in the industries where 4.3.2 Carbon Black (30% to 35%)
burning process is required.) The second product of tyre pyrolysis plant is carbon black.
1. Steel Industries. The quantity of carbon black is about 30% to 35% according
2. Rolling Mill Industries. to tyre quality. The carbon black can be used as a chemical
3. Chemical Industries. strengthener in rubber industries and coloring agent in
4. Used in the Boilers for the heating purposes. pigment industries. This carbon black price is very
competitive compare to petroleum carbon black.

Table 2: Carbon Black Specification Report

S. No. Carbon Black Specification Report Total (condition) Method Unit Specified Value Observed Value
1. Ash Content ASTM D 1506 % -- 9.44
2. Pour Density ASTM D 1513 Kg/m3 -- 244
3. pH Value ASTM D 1512 -- -- 6.60
4. Loss on Heating ASTM D 1509 % -- 0.41
5. Solvent Extractable ASTM D 4527 % -- 7.60
6. Iodine Adsorption IS 7498 gm / Kg -- 81.14
7. Surface Area by BET Method ASTM D 1993 m2 / gm -- 27.51
11
IRMRA/CHEM/
8. ICP Analysis Cu Fe Mn PPM -- 954
SOP/08
14

Applications of carbon black 6. Used in Iron industries.

1. Used in steel industries for burning process.
2. Used in footwear industries to make rubber soles. 4.3.3 Steel Wire Scrape (10% to 15%):-
3. Used in polish industries. The third product of tyre pyrolysis plant is steel wire, the
4. Used in ink industries. quantity of steel wire is about 10% to 15% according to tyre
5. Used in color industries as pigment. quality.
~ 260 ~
International Journal of Applied Research

4.3.4 Pyrolytic Gases (About 10 %):- characteristics, analyses suitable for solid materials
We get pyrolytic gases during process about 10% of waste characterization are used such as proximate and elemental
tyre. The main component of these gases is methane (CH4), analyses.
so we cannot condense and store these gases. We use this
gases to heat the reactor and we can use exceed gases for 5.1 Proximate Analysis
other heating application. Proximate analysis separates the products into four groups:
1. Moisture
5. Characteristic Analysis of Tyres 2. Volatile matter, consisting of gases and vapors driven
Tyres are produced by more than 100 different species. The off during pyrolysis
composition of different tyre parts like the tyre sidewall or 3. Fixed carbon, the nonvolatile fraction of coal
the tyre tread varies due to the different desired 4. Ash, the inorganic residue remaining after combustion.
characteristics of product. Tyres are composed of rubber
compounds and textile or steel cords. Rubber compounds 5.2 Elemental Analysis
generally consist of elastomers (natural or synthetic rubber), A complementary method to proximate is the ultimate
carbon black, hydrocarbon oils, zinc oxide, sulphur and analysis. Its scope is the determination of the carbon and
sulphur compounds and other chemicals such as stabilizers, hydrogen in material, as found in gaseous products of
antioxidants, anti-ozonants, etc. The rubbers mostly consist feedstock’s complete combustion, determining also the
of blends of two or three rubbers together with tyre content of sulphur, nitrogen, and ash in the material as a
additives. Because of these complex mixtures, the pyrolysis whole, and oxygen content by difference. Table 3 shows the
of tyres seems to be a complicated process involving a large proximate analysis of scrap tyres declared by various
number of chemical reactions and complex interactions of authors. The elemental analysis of waste tyres found in the
the single components. In order to determine feedstock literature is presented in Table 4.

Table 3: Proximate Analysis of Scrap Tyre Rubber

Volatile Fixed Carbon Moisture Ash Steel
Author
(wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %)
M. Juma et al. Z 61.61 22.66 1.72 14.01 _
Rodrigues et al. * 58.8 27.7 _ 3.9 9.6
Jong Min Lee et al. 67.3 28.5 0.5 3.7 _
Yu Min Chang et al. 62.32 26.26 1.31 10.29 _
Gonzales et al. 61.9 29.2 0.7 8.0 _
Chen et al. 93.73** _ 0.54 5.3 _
Loresgoiti et al. * 59.3 27.6 _ 3.5 9.6
Orr et al. 68.7 23.3 0.4 7.6 _
Williams and Bottrill 66.5 30.3 0.8 2.4 _
*- Based on reinforced tyre with steel cords **- Including fixed carbon

Table 4: Elemental Analysis of Scrap Tyre Rubber

Author C (wt %) H (wt %) N (wt %) S (wt %) O (wt %) Ashes (Inorganic)
M. Juma et al. Z 81.24 7.36 0.49 1.99 8.92 _
Rodrigues et al. * 74.2 5.8 0.3 1.5 4.7 13.5
Jong Min Lee et al. 83.8 7.6 0.4 1.4 3.1 3.7
Yu Min Chang et al. 74.4 6.96 0.21 1.6 5.02 10.21
Gonzales et al. 86.7 8.1 0.4 1.4 1.3 2.9
Chen et al. 81.16 7.22 0.47 1.64 2.07 7.44
Loresgoiti et al. * 74.2 5.8 0.3 1.5 5.1 13.3
Orr et al. 81.3 7.3 0.3 1.5 1.4
Williams and Bottrill 85.8 8.0 0.4 1.0 2.3 2.4

6. Waste Tyre Pyrolysis Plant Advantages 8. The raw material is cheaper.

1. We get valuable outputs from the process and that are
fuel oil, carbon black powder, scrap steel & gas. 7. References
2. It is feasible technology with small amount of 1. Mazloom G, Farhadi F, Khorasheh F. Kinetic modeling
investment, high availability of raw materials, short of pyrolysis of scrap tyres. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis;
recovery period. 2009; 84:157-64.
3. There is 100% recycling of waste tyres, no disposable 2. Gao N, Li A, Li W. Research into fine powder and
materials are left at the end of the process. large particle tyre pyrolysis. Waste Manage. Res. 2009;
4. The output products have its demand in the market. 27:242-50.
5. Access to best technology available in India at best 3. Senneca O, Salatino P, Chirone R. Fast heating-rate
price. thermogravimetric study of the pyrolysis of scrap
6. It is a pollution free process, thus making eco-friendly tyres.Fuel; 1999; 78:1575-81.
environment. 4. Leung DYC, Wang CL. Kinetic study of scrap tyre
7. For the waste Tyre pyrolysis plant the main raw pyrolysis and combustion. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis;
Materials are waste tyres & plastic scrap, which can be 1998; 45:153-69.
easily available in any part of the world.
~ 261 ~
International Journal of Applied Research

5. Cheung K-Y, Lee K-L, Lam K-L, Lee C-W, Hui C-W.
Integrated kinetics and heat flow modelling to optimise
waste tyre pyrolysis at different heating rates. Fuel
Process. Technol. 2011.
6. Sharma VK, Fortuna F, Mincarini M, Berillo M,
Cornacchia G. Disposal of waste tyres for energy
recovery and safe environment. Applied Energy; 2000;
381-394.
7. Juma M, Korenova Z, Markos J, Annus J, Jelemensky
L. Pyrolysis and Combustion of Scrap Tyre. Petroleum
and Coal; 2006, 15-26.
8. Antoniou N, Zabaniotou A. Features of an efficient and
environmentally attractive used tyres pyrolysis with
energy and material recovery. Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2012, 539-558.
9. William PT, Besler S, Taylor DT The pyrolysis of scrap
automotive tyres. Fuel. 1990; 69:1474-82.
10. Wang H, Xu H, Xuan X. Review of waste tyre reuse
and recycling in China – current situation, problems and
countermeasures. Adv. Nat. Sci. 2009, 2(1).
11. RM. Islam, Innovation in pyrolysis technology for
management of scrap tyre: A solution of energy and
environment International Journal of Environmental
Science and Development. 2010; 1:89-96.
12. Jong Min Lee, Jung Soo Lee, Jung Rae Kim, Sang
Done Kim, Energy, 1995, 20, 10, 969-976.
13. Yu-Min Chang, Resources, Conservation and Recycling
1996; 17:125-139.
14. Mui ELK, Cheung WH, McKay G, “Tyre char
preparation from waste tyre rubber for dye removal
from effluents,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, 175,
no. 1–3, 2010, 151–158,

~ 262 ~