News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

In our last article (Part I) we addressed the question of how the advantages of a classic batch-reactor process design can be combined with those of a continuous process mode. In the current article (Part II) we address some characteristics and advantages of a batch reactor regarding the thermochemical reactions and their effects on the end products. We refer to the extensive scientific literature and to the findings of successful companies in the industry.

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Ray and University of Missouri welcome all interested parties to a webinar to discuss the findings from a joint research project on the performance, environmental impacts and benefits of rubber modified asphalt and its growing potential to enhance the life and performance of U.S. infrastructure. The webinar will be held at 11 am Eastern Time on July 22, 2021 Register to learn more about the benefits of using ground rubber made from scrap tires in asphalt and the further research needed on this promising solution for roads and highways across the country.

A subsidiary of the prominent automotive manufacturer Audi – The Audi Environmental Foundation – has started working with Technical University of Berlin to filter our tire wear particles containing microplastics and other substances which, reportedly, harm the environment. More information about tire wear particles and how microplastics harms the environment can be found here. In its press release, Audi writes: “The Audi Environmental Foundation is involved in several projects to protect bodies of water. In the URBANFILTER project, Audi is developing optimized sediment filters for urban runoff in collaboration with the Technical University of Berlin. They trap microplastics in tire wear and other pollutant particles before they are flushed into sewers and waterways along with rainwater. A modular system consisting of nine different filter modules ensures that they achieve the best filtration results across a wide range of road and traffic conditions. Intelligently connecting data from various sources ensures that the filters are serviced and cleaned at the right time.”

Scandinavian Enviro Systems – a Swedish tire pyrolysis equipment manufacturer and operator – informs about the large demand for recovered pyrolysis oil foreseen by the company’s feasibility study. According to Enviro, there are favorable opportunities to establish a commercially successful pyrolysis plant based on Enviro’s technology in the UK. This was the conclusion of a feasibility study that commenced in November 2020 and has now been completed. According to the study, the favorable conditions stem primarily from the large domestic demand for recovered oil for the production of renewable vehicle fuel.

The Reivew, a Canadian newspaper, informs about the latest updates to Ecolomondo’s tire pyrolysis facility in Hawkesbury, Canada. According to the newspaper, the new Ecolomondo Thermal Decomposition (TDP) in Hawkesbury will be the first of its kind in the world when it begins operations scheduled for summer 2021. The Reivew says the new plant is equipped with the latest technology and will be the first automotive tire pyrolysis facility which will be able to completely recycle all materials from end of-life tires. The plant will produce marketable end-products: oil, steel, fiber, recycled carbon black and syngas, and will be equipped to secondary process them to improve their quality.

Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) – a Swedish tire pyrolysis equipment manufacturer and operator – reports its options-based incentive scheme was approved at the Annual General Meeting on May 20; moreover, it had generated substantial interest among key employees and Board members when the subscription period ended on 11 June. The scheme raised a total of SEK 5,600,000 (EUR 550,000) to the Company as of 16 June this year.

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) released the Natural Rubber Trends, May 2021. In the report, ANRPC says the world has changed after the pandemic happened. Most countries are still battling with Covid-19 and its mutation variants, millions of lives taken by the pandemic and reshuffled the ordinance of people and economy under a new norm of standard operation procedures during this pandemic era.

A new law passed by the South Carolina General Assembly allows for steep fines and even jail time for tire recyclers who fail to follow state regulations. According to the newspaper, the proposal signed into law this month by Governor Henry McMaster allows a fine of up to $10,000 per day for a first violation of the rules and $25,000 a day for any additional violations.

On June 7, BBC reported about a pile of artificial turf at a site of the local football team Southend United set ablaze. Accourding to BBC, four firefighters’ crews attended the scene of a fire on Monday evening near Roots Hall, the home ground of Southend United football club. T the area was covered with thick black smoke coming from a building on Roots Hall Avenue, near the 12,000-capacity stadium. The media says at least four fire engines were in attendance, with social media images showed a pile of artificial turf on fire at the site. The public have been told to avoid the area and close their windows and doors if living nearby. Essex County and Fire Rescue Service said the blaze is at a commercial premises and began at 5:45 pm.