Effect of acid catalysts on scrap tyre pyrolysis under fast heating conditions

Abstract A study has been carried out on the effect of acid catalysts prepared based on HZSM-5, HY and HBeta zeolites on the distribution of volatile products (gas, non-aromatic C5–C10 fraction, aromatic C 10 − and tar), in the pyrolysis of tyre material carried out in a fast heating microreactor. The results have been compared with those of thermal pyrolysis. The strategies of using the catalyst in situ and reforming the volatiles generated in thermal pyrolysis have also been compared. The use of a catalyst in situ lowers the pyrolysis temperature by 50 K (to 723 K) and produces a significant increase in the yield of gases and light aromatic C 10 − , at the expense of a decrease in the yield of non-aromatic C 10 − . The yield of tar increases only slightly. The shape selectivity of each zeolite has a significant effect and, consequently, HY zeolite leads to the formation of heavier structures that make up the tar and to aromatic C 10 − , which is favoured by hydrogen transfer capacity. HZSM-5 is more efficient for the formation of gases, although it contributes only to decreasing the molecular weight of aromatic C 10 − fraction. HBeta zeolite catalyst has an intermediate behaviour. Reforming pyrolysis volatiles at 723 K using a HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst efficiently increases (from 2 to 20 wt%) the yield of gases, with a high yield of ethene and propene. The yields of BTX fraction are also very high (around 11.5 wt%).