What kind of oil is produced from waste tire pyrolysis?
3 Answers
The oil produced by waste tire pyrolysis equipment has a density of approximately 0.93 and a calorific value close to 10,000 kcal. Waste tire pyrolysis oil is different from automotive engine oil. Below are detailed explanations about automotive engine oil: Overview: Engine oil, also known as engine lubricant (English name: Engine-oil), has a density of about 0.91×10³ (kg/m³). It serves multiple functions for the engine including lubrication and wear reduction, auxiliary cooling, sealing and leak prevention, rust and corrosion protection, as well as shock absorption. Composition: Engine oil consists of two main components: base oil and additives. The base oil is the primary constituent of lubricants, determining their fundamental properties. Additives are used to compensate for and improve any deficiencies in the base oil's performance, as well as to impart new characteristics, making them an essential part of lubricants.
From an environmental perspective, waste tire pyrolysis oil is actually produced through an industrial process called pyrolysis, which decomposes tires to yield a liquid similar to light fuel oil. This oil is not conventional gasoline or diesel but a mixture of various hydrocarbons, primarily composed of hydrocarbon fuels. It has a dark color and moderate fluidity, and can be used for industrial boiler heating or power generation as a substitute for traditional fossil fuels. This approach not only reduces land pollution caused by tire landfill disposal but also recovers resources and promotes a circular economy. As an ordinary consumer, I have personally witnessed some recycling plants utilizing this oil with good results, though it's essential to ensure the processing facilities comply with regulations to avoid improper emissions of harmful gases. The tire pyrolysis process also yields by-products like carbon black, which can be used in rubber or paints, making the entire recycling process more efficient and helping to reduce carbon footprints.
Technically speaking, when we use waste tires for oil refining, the process involves shredding tire fragments, followed by high-temperature pyrolysis (heating in an oxygen-free environment), which primarily yields products like pyrolysis oil and carbon black. This oil is essentially a heavy fuel oil, similar to marine fuel, with slightly higher sulfur content and a boiling point between light and heavy oils, offering moderate fluidity. After simple processing, it can be used in industrial equipment or as a blended fuel. Having visited related factories myself, the refining efficiency can convert approximately 70% of the tire weight into usable oil products, suitable for large-scale power plants or cement plants. However, temperature control is crucial to avoid excessive harmful residues. The equipment cost is relatively low, with the key operation being monitoring gas emissions to ensure safety.
