Apparatus and method for recovering marketable products from scrap rubber

Abstract

Tire pyrolysis systems and processes are provided which include feeding tire shreds to a pyrolysis vessel (40) and pyrolyzing the shreds in a pyrolysis vessel (40) to produce a pyrolysis gas and carbon black mixture. The pyrolysis gas processed by centrifugally separating entrained particles therefrom, separating the pyrolysis gas into a hydrocarbon condensate and a light vapor, removing entrained hydrocarbon condensate from the light vapor, and purifying and refining the hydrocarbon condensate. The carbon black mixture is processed by pulverizing the mixture to break up all strands and clumps of inorganic solids, cooling the carbon black mixture, separating the gross contaminants from the carbon mixture, and purifying and refining the carbon black. The hydrocarbon condensate is purified and refined by removing all remaining contaminants, removing any polycyclic aromatics to produce a clear, colorless plasticizer oil. The carbon black is purified and refined by pulverizing it into a powder, removing all remaining particulate contaminants, optionally pelletizing the carbon black, and bagging or packaging it for shipping.

Description

technical field [0001] This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 236.519, filed September 29, 2000, having the same or a similar title. [0002] The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for pyrolyzing waste materials having high hydrocarbon content and recovering marketable end products from the pyrolysis of these materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for pyrolyzing waste rubber shreds and refining pyrolysis by-products to produce high quality carbon black and plasticizer oil. Background technique [0003] Modern society is constantly producing increasing amounts of waste materials with high hydrocarbon content. Certain waste materials originate from commercial products typically produced by industrial processes requiring natural sources of hydrocarbons, which may be renewable (such as forest products) or non-renewable, such as petroleum, oil and coal. They have to be dumped in...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Second, when condensing pyrolysis gas into its liquid and vapor fractions, it is difficult to obtain a consistent condensate composition

Third, since carbon black has a high affinity for gases, it often contains excess pyrolysis gases which are adsorbed while still in the pyrolysis system, which presents problems in the further refining of carbon black

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