Characteristics of Pyrolysis Products from Waste Tyres and Spent Foundry Sand Co-Pyrolysis

Abstract

The products obtained through thermal conversion of tyres can represent a solution for its disposal which has been considered an environmental problem. In the foundry industry two types of sand are generated: core sand (CS) and green sand (GS); CS is classified as hazardous waste. In this paper two kinds of industrial wastes were approached, in order to propose a solution through co-pyrolysis. The experiments were performed in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor. The oil, fuel gas and char obtained were characterized. The main components present in the oil were naphthalene and anthracene. Char morphology was assessed by Scanning Electron Microscopy, confirming the resin absence on its surface. Isothermal adsorption and desorption indicated that the char obtained from tyre pyrolysis with lower particles has higher superficial area (higher than 200 m2·g−1). The main compounds identified in fuel gas were hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons up to 5 carbons.