PYROLYSIS AND LIQUEFACTION OF INDUSTRIAL RUBBER WASTES

Pyrolysis and liquefaction of rubber wastes in hot motor oil with prod uct oils recycling were investigated. By using a thermogravimetric met hod, pyrolysis of rubber wastes can be described satisfactorily by the corresponding rate equation: dX/dt = (6.91x10(18)+/-5.05) exp ((-245. 88+/-10.62) / (8.314x10(-3)T))x(1-X)(0.85+/-0.13). In liquefaction exp eriments, rubber wastes were contacted with hot motor oil (oil/rubber wt ratio = 5). Liquefaction of rubber wastes at 643 K generates approx imately 89.3% of heavy and light oils and 9.7% of gases, and 1.0% of s olid residues. The NMR and FTIR data of product oils are suggestive of the occurrence of cyclization, to some extent, in the rubber liquefac tion reaction and the aromatics in product light oil may be highly met hyl substituted.