Selective Recovery of Valuable Chemicals from Tire Pyrolysis Oil: A Sustainable Approach

Year : 2025 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 03 | Page : 31 43
    By

    Sandeep Rai,

  1. General Manager R&D, Department of chemistry, GIDC, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

Abstract

The generation of waste/scrap/end-of-life tires (ELTs) poses severe environmental challenges globally. For the disposal of huge numbers of ELTs (generated every year) using conventional recycling methods, like as landfill or incineration, are not preferred due to their adverse environmental impacts. To overcome this problem, an alternative and promising technology is developed -the pyrolysis of waste tires. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that decomposes organic materials (Rubber Hydrocarbons) in the absence of air at elevated temperatures. This process yields industrially valuable products like tire pyrolysis oil (TPO), pyro gas, and char (crude carbon black). Tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) is found to be a versatile and valuable feedstock with rich in hydrocarbons content, including aromatic compounds and terpenes, which can be further processed to recover precious chemicals. ​Tire pyrolysis oil is a heavy oil or crude oil which is extracted from waste tires through the pyrolysis process and considered as Green Fuel. Tire pyrolysis oil can be successfully converted into diesel by refining, and it can be used in large automobile vehicles like trucks, trailers, tractors & generators, and heavy machinery etc. Tire pyrolysis oil is being developed as an alternative to conventional fossil fuel because it has more or less similar physicochemical properties to diesel fuel. The physicochemical properties of tire pyrolysis oil will have similar impact on the combustion, performance, and emission comparable to diesel engines. Tire pyrolysis oil obtained by pyrolyzing end-of-life tires also contains valuable chemicals such as toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX), and limonene. This review article briefly explores the composition of TPO, the key chemicals that can be extracted, and various technologies and methods currently employed

Keywords: Tire Pyrolysis Oil, End of Life Tires, Benzene, Xylene, Ethyl Benzene, BTEX

[This article belongs to Journal of Catalyst & Catalysis ]

How to cite this article:
Sandeep Rai. Selective Recovery of Valuable Chemicals from Tire Pyrolysis Oil: A Sustainable Approach. Journal of Catalyst & Catalysis. 2025; 12(03):31-43.
How to cite this URL:
Sandeep Rai. Selective Recovery of Valuable Chemicals from Tire Pyrolysis Oil: A Sustainable Approach. Journal of Catalyst & Catalysis. 2025; 12(03):31-43. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jocc/article=2025/view=227022


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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 12
Issue 03
Received 29/06/2025
Accepted 22/08/2025
Published 20/09/2025
Publication Time 83 Days
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