Evaluation of Biodevulcanized Waste Ground Tire in Revulcanization Process

Waste ground tires were treated by two strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (PTCC 1646 and DSMZ583) and by a consortium obtained from a hot water spring with high sulfur content (S-Sarein) in orderto devulcanize the ground tire. The processes were made in 3 l flasks at 30 °C for the pure cultures and50 °C for S-Sarein for 20 days. The increase of sulfate in the media and decrease of sulfur in all groundtire samples indicated the desulfurization process. The samples were then blended with other tireingredients in order to investigate their physical and thermo-mechanical properties. The results showedthat most properties of the samples were enhanced compared to the blanks. The tensile strength,modulus, tear resistance and the rheological behavior were improved in the compound containingwaste tire treated by PTCC 1646. Whereas, the elongation at break was best improved in thecompound sample containing waste tire devulcanized by DSMZ 583.

Keywords:

DevulcanizationThermo-mechanicalPropertiesMicroorganismRecycling