Pyrum process "72% better" in Fraunhofer CO2 assessment

Dillingen, Germany – Pyrum Innovations AG has posted a highly positive assessment of its waste tire pyrolysis process by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology.

According to  life cycle assessment by the German institute, Pyrum’s process saves 747kg CO2 equivalent per tonne of end of life tire (ELT) through reduced use of fossil raw materials.

Once the use of waste heat produced in the Pyrum process is factored in, total savings rise to 965kg CO2 equivalent per tonne of ELT, added a company statement.

According to Pyrum, the current recycling mix in Germany achieves savings of 561 kg CO2 eq. per tonne of used tires, making the company’s recycling technology “72% better”.

Commenting on the results of the life cycle assessment, Pyrum CEO Pascal Klein said the data showed Pyrum’s pyrolysis technology “is the leading method” for the recycling ELTs.

“While other methods are severely limited in market potential, we are only at the beginning with pyrolysis and see major growth opportunities in this area," he added.

The current recycling mix for ELT in Germany is made up of materials recycling with a market share of 52%, and the incineration of used tires in cement plants with a share of 42%.

Another 6% is used in refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for power plants.

Pyrum said the infill method, where waste tire rubber is used for flooring purposes, also achieves large CO2 savings of 778 kg CO2 eq. per tonne of ELT.

However, the recycler said its pyrolysis process including the use of waste heat exceeds the savings by 187 kg CO2 -eq. per tonne of used tires.

In addition, Pyrum said the results of the Fraunhofer Institute confirm that the market potential of the infill method is limited and “can hardly be expanded” any further than the current 52%.