While the steady move towards electric vehicles is great for the environment, there’s still one part of a car that remains a big eco problem: the tires. They’re difficult to recycle and don’t have many options when it comes to being reused. But that may change thanks to a researcher in Spain who have discovered a way to turn tires into fuel.
By using the thermochemical decomposition process of pyrolysis, which is able to create heat without any oxygen, chemist María Felisa Laresgoiti has discovered a way to break down old tires into usable components. The process involves heating the tires at 500°C for 30 minutes. This process creates a liquid that’s similar to petroleum, so in theory could be used as a potential fuel source. In addition to the liquid produced, an additional 44 percent of the decomposed tire is turned into solid material. According to Laresgoiti, this leftover material could potentially be used to help reinforce new tires or as a way to add pigments to inks.
Via Gizmag
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