A desulfurized rubber obtained by mixing a desulfurization agent and a vulcanized rubber, the desulfurization agent containing a compound represented by any one of the following formulae (1) to (4):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or an alkyl group. It is preferable that the desulfurization agent contains at least one selected from the group consisting of 2,2′-dithiodianiline and 4,4′-dithiodianiline.

A method of combining rubbers and plastics when injection molding, and compositions usable in injection molding, are shown and described. Comminuted rubber from waste tires and waste plastics including any of high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene are combined and heated to melt at least the plastics. In one optional approach, both are melted. Plastics comprise from twenty to eighty percent by weight of the mixture, with rubber accounting for the balance. The mixture may be fortified with bonding, compatibilizing, and strengthening agents. The compositions may be cooled and pelletized for immediate use in injection operations.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

The invention relates to a pyrolysis method and reactor for recovering at least one component from a carbon based material using thermal decomposition. The carbon based material is delivered to a pyrolytic chamber (1), exposed to a controlled atmosphere and heated to a decomposition temperature of the at least one component in the pyrolytic chamber (1) by microwave radiation. A variable power microwave radiation at frequencies between 300 MHz and 2200 MHZ is applied to sequentially increase a temperature in the pyrolytic chamber (1) over a temperature range including the decomposition temperature of the at least one component.

A first method for generating a solubilized tire rubber bitumen compound is described. The first method begins by heating a first bitumen compound and a tire rubber compound to generate a bitumen wetted tire rubber mixture. The method includes adding a second bitumen compound to the bitumen wetted tire rubber mixture to generate a fully wetted tire rubber bitumen mixture. The method then proceeds to generate a devulcanized fully wetted tire rubber bitumen mixture, which is heated with mixing to between 500° F. and 700° F. to generate the solubilized tire rubber bitumen compound. Additionally, a second method for generating a solubilized tire rubber bitumen compound is described. The second method includes heating a first bitumen compound and a tire rubber compound to generate a devulcanized tire rubber bitumen mixture. The devulcanized tire rubber bitumen mixture is heated to generate a bitumen wetted devulcanized tire rubber mixture. Then, a second bitumen compound is added to generate a fully wetted devulcanized tire rubber bitumen mixture, which is heated to between 500° F. and 700° F. to generate the solubilized tire rubber bitumen compound.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

A process for extracting fuel products from waste rubber, comprising the steps of subjecting the waste rubber to pyrolysis to produce a pyrolysis vapour, subjecting the pyrolysis vapour to a condensation step to produce a pyrolytic oil having a boiling point range of 45-400° C. and a flash point below 25° C., and then subjecting the pyrolytic oil to a vacuum steam stripping step so as to recover a fraction having a first composition having a flash point above 55° C., a boiling point range starting at 140° C. or higher, a density at 15° C. of less than 990 kg/m.sup.3, a total acid number TAN of up to 12, a styrene content of less than 3000 ppm, and an organic halogen (as Cl) content of less than 50 ppm, and a second composition having an initial boiling point not exceeding 75° C. under atmospheric pressure, a density at 15° C. of greater than 790 kg/m.sup.3, a benzene content of at least 1.25 vol %, an existent gum (washed) content greater than 10 mg/100 ml, an organic halogen (as Cl) content of less than 50 mg/kg, and a colour Raw oil of less than 5.0.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

A method of combining rubbers and plastics when injection molding, and compositions usable in injection molding, are shown and described. Comminuted rubber from waste tires and waste plastics including any of high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene are combined and heated to melt at least the plastics. In one optional approach, both are melted. Plastics comprise from twenty to eighty percent by weight of the mixture, with rubber accounting for the balance. The mixture may be fortified with bonding, compatibilizing, and strengthening agents. The compositions may be cooled and pelletized for immediate use in injection operations.

The invention provides a apparatus for reworking of non-vulcanised rubber or de-vulcanized rubber from a rubber component, preferably a rubber tire, to produce recycled rubber. The apparatus comprises a gear pump configured to receive and filter the rubber to produce filtered rubber and a mixer-extruder configured to homogenize and extrude the filtered rubber to produce recycled rubber.