Feedstock Recycling of Automobile Shredder Residue

Abstract

In this work, the potential of automobile shredder residue (ASR) for feedstock recycling was studied. Composition of ASR was determined by the separation of a 10 kg representative sample into its basic components. Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analyses of individual components as well as of the representative sample of ASR were provided by a simultaneous TG/DSC analyzer. Elemental analysis of mixed ASR and individual components of ASR was provided by an elemental analyzer. The bomb calorimetric method was used to determine the higher heating value (HHV) of all individual components and also of mixed ASR. A model for the determination of the following parameters of mixed ASR was developed: kinetics of thermal decomposition, heat of thermal decomposition, proximate and elemental analyses, and HHV. The model enables the determination of the abovementioned parameters by entering the content of individual types of waste present in ASR. In a second series of experiments, the ASR samples were pyrolyzed in a laboratory screw-type reactor at reactor temperature ranging from 550°C to 800°C. Individual product yields as well as composition of pyrolysis gases were estimated.