'De-vulcanisation' technology uses microbiology

By Helen Gilbert

Edinburgh, Scotland -- A Scottish tyre recycling company that has developed a technique that can make rubber easily bondable with natural or synthetic rubbers is to receive support from the Recycling Commercialisation Centre. The system uses micro-organisms to find and eat sulphur atoms.

The Centre, managed by Imperial Innovations on behalf of the Waste & Resources Action Programme, will provide support services to Recyclatech, a Scottish company set up in 2006 after being spun out of Napier University in Edinburgh.

The firm has developed a microbiological rubber devulcanisation process that generates a recyclate that can be used in high value rubber products.

According to Bill Findlay, Recyclatech CEO, the technique is similar to a bug attacking the rubber and eating away at the sulphur on the surface.

“This allows the rubber to be remoulded and introduced into normal rubber processes and reused again,” he told PRW.com. “It makes it easier to be bonded with other natural or synthetic rubbers.”

The firm is currently seeking investment of between £5m and £10m to build a plant but has yet to decide on a location.

Now the Recycling Commercialisation Centre, which supports recycling companies and technologies which have commercial potential, will assist Recyclatech by providing resources and support for technical testing.

It will also offer help with business planning, identify sources of funding, develop the company towards investment readiness and identify markets and customers.

Recyclatech's process is ideal for waste tyres -disposal of which in landfills is outlawed by European directives. Worn out tyres are crumbed into small particles, which are then put through the microbiological technique.

The rubber can then be reused in car tyres and products such as basic underlay for carpets, soundproofing materials for apartments and Wellington boots.

Susan Searle, CEO of Imperial Innovations, said: “This technology has the potential to revolutionise the rubber recycling industry. We look forward to working with the team at Recyclatech.”

From PRW.com (A Crain publication)

Press release from Imperial Innovations Group plc