News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

A few weeks ago, Rosehill team conducted extensive blast testing on its solid rubber Ballistic Blocks at a military testing facility in Europe. The rigorous process involved configuring different setups with the Ballistic Blocks and placing 81mm mortar rounds at distances ranging from 20cm to 2 meters. The mortars were remotely detonated to assess how well the Ballistic Blocks resisted high-impact blasts. After detonation, a thorough examination revealed that the blocks effectively absorbed all shrapnel, preventing any penetration.

Smithers Recovered Carbon Black conference is returning across the 6-8 November 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower in Barcelona, Spain. Over 280 rCB representatives joined the rCB conference 2022 with the conference selling out one month before; over 300 rCB representatives are expected to join Smithers in Barcelona this November. As Europe’s leading rCB industry event, the conference provides a unique opportunity for delegates to get the latest industry information and network face-to-face with global experts.

The second AZuR colloquium at the TH Köln Gummersbach campus brought together 18 scientists to discuss innovative methods and possibilities for recycling end-of-life tires (ELTs). Scientists from various universities and institutes presented current studies and research projects in areas such as microwave-assisted devulcanization of rubber, ecosystem development for a circular tire replacement business, and the activation of rubber waste for secondary raw material production.

ICIS, a global commodity intelligence source, has introduced Plastic Pyrolysis Oil Pricing Indexes to meet growing consumer demand for pricing chemical recycling outputs. This groundbreaking move establishes ICIS as the pioneer in offering such a pricing index. Plastic pyrolysis oil (PPO) is a sustainable alternative to fossil-based naphtha in plastic production, aligning with the chemical industry's transition to a circular economy, driven by consumer, investor, and regulatory pressures.

Pyrum Innovations AG (Pyrum) is planning to build a Pyrum pyrolysis plant in the Czech Republic together with a Czech energy company. A corresponding consulting contract was signed with a subsidiary of the group of companies in order to prepare the approval for the construction of the tire recycling plant and to submit the building application. The new plant with a capacity of 20,000 tons of used tires per year is being built in the Czech border region with Germany and is scheduled to start operations in 2025.

On August 11, 2023, the MAKROchem Group closed its representative office in Russia. The Management Board of the MAKROchem Group has decided to sell all shares in the subsidiary in Russia by the end of 2023. Preparations are currently underway to conclude an appropriate agreement, and MAKROchem will inform about the final sale of shares in a special announcement.

Pliteq – sustainable rubber products manufacturer with presence in the UK, UAE, Canada, US, LATAM, Singapore, and Australia – transforms end-of-life tires (ELT) into high-quality offerings like commercial flooring and sound insulation materials. Pliteq is dedicated to producing environmentally friendly, sustainable rubber products, from commercial flooring to underlayment materials; and recognized for their unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovative approach to rubber recycling.

In a recent article by Automotive World, Krzysztof Wróblewski, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer at Contec S.A., delves into the potential of recycled tires to reshape the future of mobility. Rather than viewing end-of-life tires (ELTs) as mere waste, the automotive industry can leverage them as valuable secondary feedstock for tire manufacturing, aligning with circular principles. This shift could substantially reduce the carbon footprint of tires and contribute to manufacturers' ambitious 2050 goals of achieving net-zero emissions.

Porous Lane, a pioneering venture led by Associate Professor Mahdi Disfani and Dr Amir Mehdizadeh, is revolutionizing the pavement and construction industry in Australia by transforming used tires from landfills into robust and permeable pavements. This technology aims to create flood-resistant cities, enhance water quality, and divert waste from landfills. The founders, supported by the University of Melbourne's Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM) programs, participated in the 2019 TRAM Track and are currently part of the 2023 TRAM Air cohort, focusing on refining their venture's investibility.