Physico-chemistry properties of fuel blends composed of diesel and tire pyrolysis oil

Abstract

© 2016 Elsevier LtdPyrolysis of scrap tires has been pointed out as an alternative to the incorrect disposal of tire wastes. Pyrolysis processes can produce tire-derived oils that may be used as fuel or added to conventional fuels, producing fuel blends with improved properties and reduced cost. The pyrolysis process can contribute to remove tire residues of inadequate sites and it can be a sustainable process to produce alternative fuels. In this work, the properties of blends between petroleum diesel and pyrolytic oil obtained from the thermal degradation of tire waste were investigated. The liquid obtained from the tire waste pyrolysis was black oil, possessing a distinctive, unpleasant and strong odor. The compositional analysis of pyrolytic oil describes the liquid as a complex mixture, composed mainly of aromatic compounds and olefins. The oil specific gravity was 0.93 g cm−3, while gasoline and diesel showed 0.74 and 0.84 g cm−3, respectively. The Research Octane Number (RON) for the pyrolytic oil was found to be similar to the RON for Premium gasoline (higher than 100). Its Motor Octane Number (MON) was found to be slightly lower than the MON for gasoline and very higher than those to diesel fuel. The pyrolytic oil showed also higher detonation resistance in relation to the conventional fuels investigated. The oil has the High Heat Value (HHV) in-between than that for gasoline and diesel fuel, achieving 42 kJ g−1. The tire pyrolysis oil was miscible with diesel in the entire concentration range. Pyrolysis oil/diesel blends showed properties that make them able to be applied as fuel. However, blend properties highlight the complexity of the chemical interactions between the fuels, which need consideration before their applications.