Orion links with RISE to produce renewable carbon black

Houston, Texas – Orion Engineered Carbons SA has formed a partnership with RISE Research Institutes of Sweden to develop and produce renewable carbon black. 

The link-up is part of Orion’s efforts to move to “more climate-neutral” carbon black production by replacing traditional carbon black feedstock with pyrolysis oil from biomass oil. 

Orion plans to convert the biomass oil into carbon black using its small-scale furnace reactor in Kalscheuren, Germany and explore ways to upscale the process. 

RISE, meanwhile, will use a pilot-scale reactor at its site in Piteå, Sweden to evaluate the use of 'electro-fuels', such as plasma or hydrogen from electrolysis, as sustainable heat sources for the carbon black process.

The Swedish partner has already shown the potential feasibility of producing carbon black using pyrolysis oil from wood-derived feedstock, said Orion, adding that it aims to validate commercial production based on this research.

“We are committed to meeting the rising interest in renewable carbon black as the tire industry,” said David Deters, senior vice president, Orion Engineered Carbons, in a 22 July announcement. 

“This partnership is yet another step in our sustainability strategy and we look forward to partnering with RISE on this exciting and critically important project,” added Deters.