In 1997, Svedala began a program to develop a process to convert waste tire
s into valuable commodities. A review of numerous approaches revealed short
comings that were process related or mechanical related, while some of the
approaches emphasized the production of low-value products. A market study
revealed that a process that could produce a good grade of carbon black wou
ld be economically feasible. This paper discusses the laboratory and pilot-
plant development and commercial plant design of such a process.