Thermolysis
Thermolysis is a heat-based, chemical process in which carbon-containing starting materials are split at temperatures above 400 degrees Celsius, excluding oxygen. These are then refined into industrial materials in downstream processing steps and thus can be reused industrially.
In thermolysis processes for waste utilization, which have been the subject of research and development since the 1980s, plastic waste and used tires are processed in thermolysis reactors at temperatures between 400 and 1,000 degrees Celsius. The bound carbon is extracted in the form of oils, gases, and solids, including coke and graphite. In contrast to the incineration of waste in existing landfills for waste disposal, thermolysis does not destroy fossil resources but instead supplies them as secondary raw materials to the material cycle.
Structure of the Thermolysis Process
INVESTBOAT International has focused on technologies in cooperation with the GreenSTAR planning and conceptualization levels that serve to implement a scalable thermolysis process for the generation of secondary raw materials.
The tasks of preparing and implementing the thermolysis plants as well as ongoing operations were entrusted to GreenSTAR Invest and its operational German subsidiaries.
Procedure diagram
Preparatory Measures
The logistics process involves a multi-stage process of preparing waste materials, particularly in the areas of plastic and rubber waste.
- Crushing of the delivered materials (shredding process)
- Sorting for reuse
- Intermediate storage of the separated input materials for the subsequent thermal-chemical processing step of the thermolysis process
- Controlled feeding of the delivered materials into the thermolysis reactor
Thermolysis
Thermolysis allows for the recovery of raw materials and energies bound in the materials supplied to the thermolysis process.
- Chemical decomposition of the input materials through differentiated temperature and pressure control
- Separation of the production-related steam from the extracted various solids after completion of the thermal process step of the thermolysis
- Process-technological separation of oils and gases
- Cooling of the strongly heated solids obtained through the high temperatures of the thermolysis process
Thermolysis Products
As a result of thermolysis, various raw materials are available. They can be traded as raw materials on commodity markets without further refinement steps, converted into energy, or processed into industrial products through further refining production steps.
Energy
Electricity generated from the generation of raw materials can be directly fed into power grids to any extent that is not required for the thermolysis process's own consumption.
Process Technological Advantages
Efficient
The thermolysis process achieves a remarkably high efficiency level in the recovery of raw materials. The secondary raw materials obtained are characterized by a high quality that allows for stable sales revenues.
Self-sufficient
The closed system of the thermolysis process enables the entire production to be emission-neutral. By recycling the resulting exhaust gases, sufficient large-scale energy is generated, which enables a nearly self-sufficient operation of the reactor unit with almost no additional energy input.
Versatile
With little effort, modifications in the processing process can be implemented, making it possible to recycle the following input products using thermolysis:
- Renewable raw materials
- Technical rubber (conveyor belts)
- Sorted household waste (dry)
- Bituminous waste (road surfaces)
- Oil-contaminated sands