Miriam Arabiourrutia

Kinetics of scrap tyre pyrolysis under vacuum conditions.

Scrap tyre pyrolysis under vacuum is attractive because it allows easier product condensation and control of composition (gas, liquid and solid). With the aim of determining the effect of vacuum on the pyrolysis kinetics, a study has been carried out in thermobalance. Two data analysis methods have been used in the kinetic study: (i) the treatment of experimental data of weight loss and (ii) the deconvolution of DTG (differential thermogravimetry) curve. The former allows for distinguishing the pyrolysis of the three main components (volatile components, natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber) according to three successive steps. The latter method identifies the kinetics for the pyrolysis of individual components by means of DTG curve deconvolution. The effect of vacuum in the process is significant. The values of activation energy for the pyrolysis of individual components of easier devolatilization (volatiles and NR) are lower for pyrolysis under vacuum with a reduction of 12K in the reaction starting temperature. The kinetic constant at 503K for devolatilization of volatile additives at 0.25atm is 1.7 times higher than that at 1atm, and that corresponding to styrene-butadiene rubber at 723K is 2.8 times higher. Vacuum enhances the volatilization and internal diffusion of products in the pyrolysis process, which contributes to attenuating the secondary reactions of the repolymerization and carbonization of these products on the surface of the char (carbon black). The higher quality of carbon black is interesting for process viability. The large-scale implementation of this process in continuous mode requires a comparison to be made between the economic advantages of using a vacuum and the energy costs, which will be lower when the technologies used for pyrolysis require a lower ratio between reactor volume and scrap tyre flow rate.

Characterization of the Liquid Obtained in Tyre Pyrolysis in a Conical Spouted Bed Reactor

Used tyres pose a serious environmental problem and pyrolysis is considered one of the more feasible solutions that may be economically profitable on a large scale. In this study the pyrolysis of tyres has been carried out in a conical spouted bed reactor at 500 °C and the liquid product has been characterized taking into account composition, heat value and simulated distillation. The tyre mass feed in each run was 2 g and the bed was made up of 15 g of sand. Pyrolysis of scrap tyre at the 500 °C gives way to a yield of 3.1% of gases, 37.6% of liquid fraction (C5-C10 range hydrocarbons), 25.6% of tar (C11+) and 33.7% of char. The liquid fraction is of suitable quality for its use as fuel but the char requires activation for its upgrading.

Efecto del uso de Catalizadores Ácidos Sobre la Distribución de Productos en la Pirólisis de Neumáticos

The thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of tyres in a high heating rate commercial microreactor has been studied by following two reaction strategies: in situ catalytic and thermal pyrolysis followed by on-line catalytic pyrolysis. The catalysts have been prepared based on HZSM-5, HY and HBeta zeolites and they have been used in situ in the pyrolysis reactor and on-line, in a fixed bed reactor. The use of the catalyst in situ decreases the pyrolysis temperature by 50 K (from 773K to 723 K) and significantly increases the yield of gas and C10- light aromatics. The shape selectivity of HZSM-5 zeolite and the higher micropore size and hydrogen transfer capacity of HY zeolite significantly affect product distribution. The HBeta zeolite catalyst has an intermediate behaviour. The yields of gases, C10aromatics and tar increase in the catalytic reforming of thermal pyrolysis.