On pyrolysis of waste tire: Degradation rate and product yields

Abstract

A promising and realistic alternative for the reuse of waste tire is the energy and resource technology, pyrolysis, which converts the polymer waste to useful chemical products or fuels. For general engineering purposes, this paper presents studies on the degradation rate and product yields of waste tire during pyrolysis without a catalyst. A thermal gravimetric analyser (TGA) was used to measure the weight loss of waste tire during pyrolysis. Yields of gas, liquid and char products were measured, and a gas chromatograph (GC) was used to analyse the composition of liquid products. Pyrolysis of waste tire was found to be a fast reaction, the degradation rate of which can be correlated in terms of pyrolysis conversion and temperature. The rate increases with the temperature of pyrolysis. However, the effect on the degradation rate of a pyrolysis temperature of below 400°C is more sensitive than that above this temperature. Distribution of product yields from pyrolysis varies with temperature. Generally, the total yield of gas products is 30–53% by weight of the waste tire, of oil is 28–42%, and char is 14–28%. Further, the fuel oil, a part of the oil product, has a maximum level up to 15% by weight at a temperature of ∼350°C.