Upgrading of Waste Tire Pyrolysis Oil

Abstract: The annual increase in waste car tires in addition to the enormous amount at present poses a major waste management problem as well as an environmental hazard. However, pyrolysis is emerging as a solution for waste tire management and a viable technology for material recycling and energy recovery that produces high energy liquid and gas products as well as char. The pyrolysis oil that is produced from this technology has the potential to be used as vehicle fuel but contains exceeding levels of sulfur and other impurities. This study investigates the upgrading and desulfurization of waste tire pyrolysis oil by reactive adsorption using a molybdenum modified zeolite and its desilicated form. The experiments were performed at 320 °C and a LHSV of 45-50 h-1 for approximately 45 min, and revealed that both desilication and Mo-modification resulted in the cracking of both gaseous and liquids compounds, reduction of TAN, denitrogenation, and deoxygenation. Desilication increased desulfurization while Mo-modification increased the EHI. The treatment was the most effective in the removal of oxygen, followed by nitrogen and sulfur. In conclusion, the treatment process is promising as a method for direct liquid upgrading but requires further research.