Investigating the impact of process parameters on waste tire pyrolysis and characterizing the resultant chars and oils

• Published in: International journal of human capital in urban management (Online) Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 509 - 520
• Main Authors: A. Pazoki, R. Ghasemzadeh, M. Barikani, M. Pazoki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Municipality of Tehran 01-07-2024
• Subjects: colorific value; detailed hydrocarbon analysis (dha); thermogravimetric analysis (tga); tire scrap
• ISSN: 2476-4698; 2476-4701
• DOI: 10.22034/IJHCUM.2024.03.10

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The escalating global population, coupled with increased transportation needs and car production, has led to a surge in waste tire generation, reaching billions annually. Recognizing the environmental impact, there's a growing focus on utilizing waste tires as secondary raw materials and energy sources. Despite challenges posed by tire resilience and resistance to degradation, the current study advocates for pyrolysis as an eco-friendly method to recycle tires. It explores key process parameters (temperature and residence time) in pyrolysis, emphasizing qualitative and quantitative analyses of resulting oils compared to other products. The goal is to contribute to sustainable tire waste management and resource recovery.METHODS: The study employed Thermogravimetric analysis for rubber's thermal characteristics, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for pyrolysis oil analysis, Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis using a VARIAN CP-3800 instrument, and a bomb calorimeter (Parr 1256) for measuring heat capacity in obtained oils.FINDINGS: The yields of pyrolysis oil, char and gas were 20–32.5, 45-60 and 5-30 wt.%, respectively. The Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis results were ranged from 5-20 that showed that pyrolysis oils consisted mainly of 2,3-dimethylbutene, 2-Methylbutene, t-Isobutyl-4-ethyl-benzene, and 1-m-4-Isopropyl-benzene. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy showed that increasing of aromatic component with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Measuring of highest calorific value of pyrolysis oil was 10309 Cal/g that showed good compatibility with commercial heating oils.CONCLUSION: Pyrolysis oils from waste tires exhibit calorific values comparable to commercial heating oils, suggesting a promising alternative fuel source with versatile compositions. The findings help understanding the feasibility and potential applications of waste tire pyrolysis in sustainable energy solutions.