Pyrolysis of scrap tires and conversion of chars to activated carbon

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · AIChE Journal (American Institute of Chemical Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690390814· OSTI ID:5823274

Merchant, A A; Petrich, M A ^[1]

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1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering

The primary objective of this work was to demonstrate the conversion of scrap tires to activated carbon. The authors have been successful in this endeavor, producing carbons with surface areas greater than 500 m[sup 2]/g and significant micropore volumes. Tire shreddings were pyrolyzed in batch reactors, and the pyrolysis chars activated by reaction with superheated steam. Solid products of pyrolysis and activation were studied with nitrogen adsorption techniques. They find that the porosity development during steam activation of tire pyrolysis char is similar to that reported for various other chars. A maximum in micropore volume is observed as a function of conversion, but the total surface area increases monotonically with conversion. They suggest that the activation process consists of micropore formation, followed by pore enlargement. The process conditions used in this study are a good starting point from which to optimize a process to convert tires to activated carbon.

• OSTI ID: 5823274
• Journal Information: AIChE Journal (American Institute of Chemical Engineers); (United States), Vol. 39:8; ISSN 0001-1541
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
ACTIVATED CARBON
SYNTHESIS
TIRES
PYROLYSIS
CHARS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
MICROSTRUCTURE
POROSITY
SCRAP
STEAM
SUPERHEATING
SURFACE AREA
ADSORBENTS
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
HEATING
NONMETALS
PYROLYSIS PRODUCTS
SOLID WASTES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES
090900* - Biomass Fuels- Processing- (1990-)
099000 - Biomass Fuels- Products & By-Products- (1990-)