Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is a well-known process, widely and extensively researched at lab-scale and pilot-scale, in batch and continuous processes, including those induced by thermal and more recently via microwave heating. In addition, industrial-scale plants are recently appearing given the process advantages, regulations, and the technological maturity offered by some suppliers. Pyrolysis of waste tires (WT) is a promising sustainable source of fuels and petrochemical substitutes. It may help in compensating the progressive consumption of petroleum-based products, while valorizing an important and complex waste in the circular economy framework. Pyrolysis of WT releases the rubber, as volatile matter, from the carbonaceous structure fixed by the carbon black (CB) used in tire manufacture. Thus a mixture of gaseous products and condensable hydrocarbons is produced, as well as a solid fraction mainly composed by the CB depending on the tire part and branch, so-called recovered carbon black (rCB). This work outlines a brief state-of-the-art of the pyrolysis of WT considering a general description of the current technologies available at industrial-scale paying special attention to some characteristics of rCB produced.