It is precisely these topics that a working meeting between scientists from the Institute of Environmental Technology of CEET at VSB-TUO and representatives of the ORLEN Unipetrol RPA company focused on.
The meeting took place at the Institute of Environmental Technology of CEET within the framework of the sub-project "Advanced valorisation of waste tyres into high-value limonene and purified carbon black", reg. no. TN02000051/027, which is part of the National Competence Centre PolyEnvi21.
The pyrolysis of waste tyres is no longer just a research topic in Europe. In several countries, such as Germany, Sweden, Hungary, or Slovakia, industrial units focused on the thermochemical processing of tyres have already been in operation for several years. The real challenge is therefore now shifting from the pyrolysis itself to the subsequent processing of the products, in particular to their purification, stabilisation, and achieving a quality that the industry is able to accept and use in the long term.
A significant example is the solid carbonaceous residue after pyrolysis, often referred to as recovered carbon black, or rCB. The rubber and plastics industries, including carbon black manufacturers, are intensively interested in its utilisation. Practical application is, however, complicated by the variable quality of the material, the differing ash content, the presence of inorganic components, and different properties compared to virgin carbon black. For the wider utilisation of rCB, it is therefore necessary to address not only the production itself but also purification, quality standardisation, and the verification of application properties.
A similar situation also applies to the liquid products of tyre pyrolysis. These can contain industrially interesting hydrocarbon components, but their further utilisation depends on the quality, stability, and possibilities of subsequent processing. The project therefore focuses on evaluating the potential of these products and looking for ways to move them from a technological intermediate product to raw materials usable in the chemical and petrochemical industries.
It is precisely the connection of laboratory research with industrial partners that is crucial for this type of technology. The cooperation with ORLEN Unipetrol RPA makes it possible to discuss not only the experimental results themselves but also the requirements for product quality, the possibilities for their further processing, and the potential connection to refinery and petrochemical operations.
The NCC PolyEnvi21 project supports the development of new polymeric materials, environmental technologies, and recycling procedures for the 21st century. In the case of waste tyres, the CEET research focuses on how to obtain substances and materials with higher added value from problematic waste, and thereby contribute to the more efficient use of resources and the reduction of the carbon footprint of industrial products.
This project is co-funded with state support from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic under the National Competence Centres Programme (project no. TN02000051).
