Bridgestone to build pilot tire pyrolysis plant at Japan factory

Tokyo – Bridgestone Corp. has announced plans to build a pilot pyrolysis plant for the recovery of end-of-life tires at its rubber hose manufacturing plant in Seki city, Gifu prefecture.

Construction work on the facility will start in November with completion set for September 2027, Bridgestone announced 30 Jan.

Once completed, the unit can process 7.5 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of ELTs to produce pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black (rCB).

The rCB produced at the facility will be used as reinforcement materials for tires by Bridgestone while the pyrolysis oil will be used in chemicals such as butadiene to produce synthetic rubber.

The plant builds on a previous joint project between Bridgestone and materials company Eneos, which saw the tire group installing a demonstration machine at its innovation park in 2023. (ERJ report)

With the pilot plant, Bridgestone said it aims to scale up the technology and optimise the ‘precision pyrolysis process’.

Through the initiative, Bridgestone said it aimed to acquire knowledge such as process design and quality control necessary for stable and continuous operation.

The project is part of one of Bridgestone’s two previously announced R&D demonstration projects for the recycling of waste tires launched in 2022. (ERJ report)

Earlier this week, Bridgestone said it was advancing its rCB technology through a joint project with Tokai Carbon and two Japanese universities.

The new project intends to further purify rCB to enhance the reinforcement properties of the materials for use in tire rubber. (ERJ report)