Production of coke from scrap tire vacuum pyrolysis oil

Abstract

The heavy fraction (b.p. > 350°C) of the oil obtained during vacuum pyrolysis of used tires is mainly composed of aromatic hydrocarbons. The possibility to use this fraction as a raw material in the coke industry was investigated. The coking experiments were carried out in a laboratory scale reactor at a temperature of 480-500°C under the partial pressure formed by the vapors and gas produced. The heating temperature rate was 10°C/min. It was found that one ton of tires can generate 28 kg of coke. The coke obtained is low in sulfur and ash and has a low metal content. The main contaminant of petroleum coke, vanadium, is not present in the pyrolytic coke. These characteristics rank the tire-derived coke obtained among the best needle coke or graphite coke base-materials. A characterization of the gas and liquid by-product fractions as well as the coke obtained was performed. High quality products were obtained.