Enviro studying large-scale tire pyrolysis plant in UK

Stockholm – Scandinavian Enviro Systems’ UK representative, 2G BioPOWER has been granted a state fund to investigate the construction of a large-scale end-of-life tire (ELT) pyrolysis plant in the UK based on Enviro's patented technology.

The state-financed innovation office Innovate UK will grant the equivalent of SEK2.5 million (€243,000) for a feasibility study, which will explore the possibilities for recovering oil and carbon black from domestic ELTs, Enviro announced 4 Nov.

According to the Swedish recycler, the UK generates approximately 450 kilotonnes of ELTs annually, of which 400 kilotonnes are ground down to granulate or exported to other countries.

The process, Enviro said, is costly and poses traffic and environmental risks.

As an alternative, the feasibility study will investigate the conditions for recycling “a large percentage” of ELTs within the UK, using Enviro’s "proprietary technology" to recover oil, steel and carbon black from waste tires. 

Primarily, the study will look into recovering and refining the natural rubber-based renewable oil from waste tires, and using it as a replacement for fossil fuel-based feedstock in a variety of products.

It will be investigating the supply of ELTs, including logistics; reporting on the outcome of pyrolysis oil testing; quantifying the market for carbon black in the tire industry and producing a capital investment appraisal for large-scale use of Enviro’s technology in the UK. 

In addition to 2G BioPOWER, which has been commissioned to lead the study, UK oil & gas engineering consulting company OSL, will also be involved in the study.  

It is estimated that the preliminary study will extend over a period of up to six months.