Sumitomo Rubber link-up to commercialise rCB, pyrolysis oil technology

Seoul – Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) and South Korean waste tire pyrolysis company LD Carbon have reached an agreement to commercialise the technology to produce sustainable raw materials for tires.

As part of a memorandum of understanding, signed last month, the two sides will jointly develop products using LD Carbon's GCB (green carbon black) as partial substitute for the existing fossil fuel-based carbon blacks, said the Korean company 13 Dec.

In particular, LD Carbon and Sumitomo Rubber are targeting "to commercialise GCB-774G and GCB-600 series, aiming to replace the existing carbon black (N660) by up to 20% to 70%, respectively," the company added.

In addition, the companies plan to promote the commercialisation of pyrolysis oil collected from waste tires.

The volume targeted by the partners is 3.5 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of GCB and 4ktpa pyrolysis oil by 2026.

Based in Seoul, LD Carbon has patented technology to produce recovered carbon black (rCB) through waste tire pyrolysis.

The company is currently processing waste tires at its recycling facility in Gimcheon, South Korean.

In addition, LD Carbon has started construction work on a new $38 million (€36 million) recycling plant, featuring tire shredding, pyrolysis and rCB facilities, and expects to complete the project by the end of next year.

Once completed, “the largest plant in Asia” will produce 20 ktpa of recovered carbon black and 20ktpa pyrolysis oil, according to LD Carbon.