Grantee Research Project Results
Rubber Tire Pyrolysis - Production of Highly Enhanced Marketable Products
EPA Contract Number: 68D40084Title: Rubber Tire Pyrolysis - Production of Highly Enhanced Marketable Products
Investigators: Carrera, Martin E.
Small Business: HiChem Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1994 through April 1, 1997
Project Amount: $145,616
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1994) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Waste , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
HiChem proposes to continue research in scrap tire pyrolysis to scale the successful Phase I laboratory results to a continuous process. Laboratory work demonstrated that the HiChem process produces three usable fractions from scrap tires:
- activated carbon with BET surface area between 1,000-2,000 meter2/gram,
- an oil fraction with calorific value equivalent to a Number 1 fuel oil,
and
- a high calorific value gas stream, mainly consisting of hydrogen and methane.
2.5 million tires are discarded in the United States every year, creating a huge disposal problem. Most of the tires are disposed of in above ground piles. Conventional steam pyrolysis of scrap tires under inert atmospheres produces reusable gas, oil, and char. However, these poor quality products have low market value. Therefore, disposal of the tires by steam pyrolysis is only marginally viable as a business venture. HiChem's process consists of reusable oil and activated carbon of higher quality. These products will be competitive in the existing market, with a low priced feedstock. The research also showed a shift in the proportionality of byproducts to higher solid and liquid (carbon and oil) fractions. Thus, the products are of higher quality and quantity.
Supplemental Keywords:
Pyrolysis, Tires, Oil, Char, Activated., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Sustainable Industry/Business, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Municipal, Sustainable Environment, Chemistry, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Environmental Engineering, rubber tire pyrolysis, scrap tires, pyrolysis, municipal waste, rubber tire, activated carbon, marketable productsProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Scrap Tire Pyrolysis -- Production of Highly Enhanced Marketable ProductsThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.