Prompt non-tire rubber recycling : final report for phases 1 and 2.

Technical Report · Fri Jun 25 04:00:00 EDT 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/898208· OSTI ID:898208

Smith, F G; Daniels, E J

This report summarizes an assessment conducted by Environmental Technologies Alternatives, Inc., under a subcontract to Argonne National Laboratory. The project was conducted in two phases. An assessment of alternative technologies for recycling of prompt non-tire rubber was conducted in the first phase, and an experimental program focusing on a new technology called the catalytic Regeneration Process offered the greatest opportunity for recovery of high-value recyclable rubber material. An experimental and large-scale test program was undertaken to further delineate the economic potential as an essential step leading to commercial deployment and to determine the course of continued development of the technology by the private sector. The experimental program defined process-operating conditions for the technology and verified the degree of devulcanisation achievable for two rubber compounds: ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated-diene monomer (EPDM) and neoprene. To determine product acceptance, samples of devulcanized EPDM and neoprene were prepared and used in factory trials for the production of automotive moldings (EPDM) and fiber-filled belting (neoprene). The factory trials indicated that the physical properties of the products were acceptable in both cases. The appearance of molded and calendared surface finishes was acceptable, while that of extruded finishes was unsatisfactory. The fiber-filled neoprene belting application offers the greatest economic potential. Process costs were estimated at $0.34/lb for neoprene waste rubber relative to a value of $0.57/lb. The results of the experimental program led to the decision to continue development of this technology is being planned, subject to the availability of about $3 million in financing from private-sector investors. The ability to recycle non-tire rubber scrap could conserve as much as 90,000 Btu/lb, thus yielding an estimated energy savings potential of about 0.25 quad/yr.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 898208
• Report Number(s): ANL/ESD/TM-151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ETHYLENE PROPYLENE DIENE POLYMERS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
NEOPRENE
RECYCLING
RUBBERS