EVALUATION OF SYNERGY IN TIRE RUBBER-COAL COPROCESSING

The tire rubber-coal synergy is evaluated through the different roles that rubber can have in coprocessing systems. For that, two different experimental designs were used: a swept fixed-bed reactor and tubing b omb minireactors. In this way, coal was coprocessed with rubber liquid s from rubber pyrolysis and rubber hydrogenation, in a hydrogen atmosp here at 400 degrees C. Coal was mixed as well with rubber in different proportions and hydrogenated at 375, 400, and 425 degrees C, and oils obtained were characterized by thin-layer chromatography to obtain hy drocarbon type composition. Rubber behavior was compared to each of th e main components of tires, and all the results indicated that the sli ght synergy found can be due to the small free radicals from vulcanize d rubber decomposition, which are able to stabilize coal radicals to l ight products.