Devulcanizing Algerian End-of-life Tire Rubber for Rubber Sustainability and Rubber Product Circular Economy, in Algeria
Abstract
Managing end-of-life tires (ELTs) remains a persistent global challenge for the transportation sector. Once discarded due to wear or irreparable damage, scrap tires pose severe environmental and health hazards. Although various disposal methods have been developed including landfilling, incineration, and crumb rubber production most are unsustainable and environmentally harmful. The vulcanization process, which transforms raw rubber into durable tire material, significantly hinders recycling efforts. However, recent technological advances offer promising solutions. In Algeria, over 6.2 million registered vehicles in 2020 generate more than six million scrap tires annually, with numbers expected to grow rapidly due to increasing vehicle ownership, shorter tire lifespans, and expanding electric and heavy-vehicle fleets. Without proper management, this waste will accumulate dramatically, exacerbating environmental degradation. Windsor Industrial Development Laboratory has developed an innovative devulcanization technology under the EcoCa™ brand, capable of reversing the vulcanization process effectively transforming used tire rubber back into a reusable form. This breakthrough enables the manufacturing of high-quality engineered rubber products. As a first application, the laboratory has successfully produced and tested passenger vehicle parking blocks made entirely from devulcanized rubber. The proposed four-step approach includes: i. Rubber recovery from scrap tires, ii. Devulcanization of the recovered rybber, iii. Compounding the devulcanized rubber, and iv. Manufacturing green products from recycled rubber. This technology offers multiple benefits: addressing environmental pollution, promoting rubber sustainability and circular economy, conserving natural resources, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs, and building local technical expertise in Algeria. Windsor’s laboratory seeks industrial and academic partners in Algeria to establish a sustainable local recycling chain and support zero-waste manufacturing practices in the Rubber Industry.
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Akkenzheyeva A, Haritonovs V, Bussurmanova A, Merijs-Meri R, Imanbayev Y, Serikbayeva A, et al. The Use of Rubber-Polymer Composites in Bitumen Modification for the Disposal of Rubber and Polymer Waste. Polymers. 2024 Nov;16(22):3177. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/22/3177
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