RAW MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS Carbon Black from Tire-Derived Pyrolysis Oil

Within the EU-funded innovation project BlackCycle (Horizon 2020 program, project number 869625), sustainable carbon blacks for tire applications have been produced on a conventional carbon black furnace reactor by using oils derived from an end-of-life tires pyrolysis process. This represents a truly circular process. The carbon blacks obtained show very similar analytical data and in-rubber properties in comparison to products produced with a standard oil.

1.6 billion new tires are sold globally each year, representing more than 26 million tons of material, and just as many fall into the category of end-of-life tires (ELT) providing a large and partially tapped potential for material recovery [1]. According to a recent report by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) some 95% of Europe‘s end-of-life tires were collected and treated for material recycling and energy recovery during 2019 [2]. While about 1.95 million tons of these ELTs were treated through material recovery, today’s ELT treatment processes are not circular and do not result in many raw materials that can be reused in the tire industry.