Pyrolysis of waste tire rubber: Influence of temperature on pyrolysates yield

Abstract

Previous studies conducted on the pyrolysis of used rubber were either directed towards the yield and properties of liquid fuel or focused towards the generation of carbon black as end product and, hence, little attention was paid to the quantitative determination of gaseous, liquid, tar and char fractions obtained from the pyrolysis of used tire rubber. Therefore, the aim of this study was to re-utilize waste tire rubber as raw material for production of these valuable products which has substantial benefits for domestic and commercial use. Pyrolysis experiments were performed for thermal degradation of used tire rubber (UTR). The pyrolysates from the pyrolyzer were collected in separate traps on the basis of volatility into fractions like tar, liquid and gas. Influence of temperature was determined. The gaseous fraction was monitored using gas chromatography and the major hydrocarbons detected were C1–C5. The liquid fraction was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the compounds detected in the range of C16 to C19. As the different fractions (gas, liquid, tar and char) were collected independently of each other, therefore, they may be used separately for useful purposes.