Production of active carbons from waste tyres - a review

A review of the production of activated carbons from waste tyres is presented. The effects of various process parameters, particularly, temperature and heating rate, on the pyrolysis stage are reviewed. The influence of activating conditions, physical and chemical, nature of the activation chemicals, on the active carbon properties are discussed. Under certain process conditions several active carbons with BET surface areas over 1000 m(2)/g have been produced with extensive micropore volumes, over 40% of the total pore volume. A review is carried out of the reaction kinetic modeling applied to the pyrolysis of tyres and the chemical activation of tyres. The models cover one step and two step pyrolysis models, plus more recent models which are based on the actual chemical components such as natural rubber. SBR and other additives. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.