5.3.1 Introduction

This work was instigated to assess fast pyrolysis as an alternative method for tyres disposal. The primary objective was to demonstrate that short residence times and high heating rates could produce high yields of liquids from rubber. A 10-25 kg/h unit was constructed to investigate the reactor parameters of surface temperature and gas/vapour product residence time and particle size. The system is expected to be capable of using wood as a feedstock.

The process technology has been sold or licensed to Castle Capital who have installed a 1500 — 2000 kg/h plant in Halifax, Nova Scotia, using solid waste as feed. This operates at higher temperatures giving a gas product but can be modified to produce liquids. Little information is available on this plant.