Recycled tyres 'produce usable liquids' for petrochemical laboratories

Recycling tyres using pyrolosis can break them down into solids, liquids and gases which may be used in petrochemical laboratories in place of some fossil fuel derivatives.

Maria Felisa Laresgoiti, a PhD student at the University of the Basque Country, a bilingual Spanish-Basque academic institution, has published findings of her research into using pyrolosis to retrieve materials from unwanted tyres.

The university explains that this can prove difficult due to the way tyres are designed to resist extreme conditions - but after 30 minutes at 500 degrees or more, the component solids, liquids and gases can be extracted.

Liquids produced by recycled tyres in particular could be of interest to petrochemical laboratories, as Ms Laresgoiti says they include sources for styrene and limonene.

The liquids themselves could also be used as sources of fuel; however, due to legal specifications, the scientist says they would not be able to be directly substituted for fuel oil, diesel or petrol.