Abstract:
The pyrolysis of used tyre was carried out in a refurbished thermo-chemical fixed bed reactor having a capacity of 17.4 litres. The reactor was used to pyrolyse 1 kg per batch of shredded tyre of size 20 mm x 30 mm at varying temperatures of 250oC, 350oC, 450oC and 600oC respectively. The reactor was heated to the desired temperatures using two electrical heating coils of 1,000watts capacity each; with a digital temperature controller with two K- type thermocouple installed to monitor the temperature. The main products derived from the pyrolysed used tyre are Char (Solid), Oil (Liquid) and pyro-gas. The gas yield of 2.8 % was achieved at 250oC, 4.5 % at 350oC, 10.1 % at 450oC and 11.5 % was obtained at 600oC respectively. The ultimate (elemental) and proximate analysis of the pyro-gas were carried out with the aid of Gas Chromatography which showed the presence of methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), nitrogen (N2) among other constituents. The average energy content of the gas collected at the various temperatures was 39.41MJ kJ-1. Flammability test was carried out to ascertain whether the pyro-gas obtained is combustible or not. The gas became combustible at a temperature of 255oC (reactor temperature). The test was repeated at the reactor temperature of 350oC, 450oC and 600oC respectively and at this temperatures the pyro-gas was flammable which indicates that the pyro-gas from the research is combustible and with proper purification can be used for heating purposes. An average heating value of 39.41 MJ/kg was obtained from the pyrolysed waste tyre gas.
