Partnership with Newcastle University to drive innovation in recovered carbon black

London – Wastefront AS has formed a partnership with Newcastle University to carry out research into the characterisation and enhancement of the company’s recovered carbon black (rCB).

As “a world leader in sustainability, Newcastle University’s partnership with Wastefront will see cutting-edge industry innovation emerge,” said a 7 July announcement from the partners.

Over the next 18 months, the research team will focus particularly on rCB interaction with rubbers and its correlation with prospective industrial applications, according to the statement.

The scope of work will include: Quantifying the interaction of rCB with different solvents; Developing methods to better understand the “nature of the surface within the rCB”; Investigating new applications for rCB.

The research team also have a remit to develop methods to reduce inorganic components in rCB, thereby improving its chemical and material properties and performance in rubber goods.

The team from Newcastle University undertaking the rCB study will be: prof Katarina Novakovic. principal investigator, reader in polymer engineering; prof Steve Bull, co-investigator, Cookson Group chair of engineering materials; Dr Deepashree Thumbarathy, post-doctoral research associate; and Dr Tim Blackburn, business development manager.

With the link-up with Newcastle University, we “will to further advance the commercial capabilities of recovered carbon black through our joint studies, Henrik Selstam, Wastefront CTO.

“Ensuring we can continue to implement our at-scale solution in the UK, Europe and Globally will require the input of leading experts in their fields,” added Selstam.

Oslo -based Wastefront is establishing a £100-million (€116 million) tire recycling plant in Sunderland, which will produce rCB from a supply of 20% of the UK’s yearly total of ELTs.

Scheduled for start-up in 2025, the unit will have an annual capacity to process 80 kilotonnes of tire waste and convert it into commodities, including biofuels, recycled steel and recovered carbon black.

Wastefront uses pyrolytic reactors to break down tire materials at elevated temperatures. The carbon black is washed and milled to upgrade the chemical properties for use in tire production, mechanical rubber goods or as a filler for plastics.