Norwegian waste tyre recycling company Wastefront As has been awarded a EUR2 million grant to develop a catalyst-based oil purification process. The grant from Eureka Eurostars – a funding-programme for business collaborations in commercialising innovative products – was awarded to Hyfuel, a joint project between Wastefront and Swedish chemical engineering company Hulteberg.
As part of the project, the companies aim to develop a catalyst technology to purify pyrolysis oil extracted from end-of-life tyres (ELTs). Recycled-prices -Flame-Retardant
The initiative will enable Wastefront to optimise some of the characteristics of tyre-derived oil to make it a suitable biofuel replacement for diesel fuel.
“This marks an important step in Wastefront’s mission to improve oil quality and sustainable solutions portfolio,” the company said.
With the grant, Wastefront said it will accelerate the development of efficient solutions to tackle large-scale tire wastes and a scientific processes to create a ‘circular tyre economy’.
Backed by energy giant Vitol, Wastefront secured planning permission in January 2022 to build the EUR120 million tyre recycling plant in Sunderland, which is set to be commercially operational by 2025.
At full capacity, the plant will be able to manage 20% of the UK’s total ELTs through processing 80,000 tonnes/year.