Catalytic pyrolysis of tyres: influence of catalyst temperature

Two stage pyrolysis–catalysis of used tyres was undertaken to upgrade the derived oil to a highly aromatic oil suitable to be used as a chemical feedstock rather than a liquid fuel. The tyres were pyrolysed in a fixed bed reactor and the evolved pyrolysis gases were passed through a secondary fixed bed reactor containing zeolite catalyst. The pyrolysis reactor was maintained at 500 °C and the influence of catalyst temperature between 430 and 600 °C on the yield and composition of the derived oils was examined. Two zeolite catalysts were examined; a Y-type zeolite catalyst and zeolite ZSM-5 catalyst of differing pore size and surface activity. The influence of the catalyst was to reduce the yield of oil with a consequent increase in the gas yield and formation of coke on the catalyst. Single ring aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene and xylenes present in the oils showed a marked increase in the presence of the catalyst. Naphthalene and alkylated naphthalenes were also analysed and showed a similar marked increase in the concentration when a catalyst was present. The Y-type zeolite catalyst of larger pore size and higher surface activity was found to produce higher concentrations of aromatic compounds compared to the ZSM-5 catalyst. Increasing the catalyst temperature resulted in significant changes in the concentration of benzene, toluene, xylenes, naphthalene and the alkylated naphthalenes.