A rotary furnace (1) for pyrolyzing a feedstock, the furnace (1) comprises a rotating vessel (12) having an upstream end (12A) with an inlet (16) for receiving feedstock and a downstream end (12B) with an outlet (17A, 17B) for egress of pyrolysis products, and a gas extraction pipe (13) extending within and along the rotating vessel (12) from the downstream end (12B), the gas extraction pipe (13) having an opening (18) upstream of the downstream end (12B) to accept gaseous components generated in use.

A rotary furnace (1) for pyrolyzing a feedstock, the furnace (1) comprises a rotating vessel (12) having an upstream end (12A) with an inlet (16) for receiving feedstock and a downstream end (12B) with an outlet (17A, 17B) for egress of pyrolysis products, and a gas extraction pipe (13) extending within and along the rotating vessel (12) from the downstream end (12B), the gas extraction pipe (13) having an opening (18) upstream of the downstream end (12B) to accept gaseous components generated in use.

Disclosed is a process for treating waste plastic materials such as whole tyres, coarsely cut tyres, large plastic pieces, plastic composites such as hoses or combinations of above into gases, liquids and solids by direct heating in a pyrolysis liquid (1) such as molten salt or molten metal. The pyrolysis system is constructed such that the segregation of the light and heavy materials occurs within the pyrolysis chamber. The carbon black is segregated from the pyrolysis vapours via a cyclone and fractions of carbon black may be obtained by installing a number of cyclones in series so that different qualities of carbon black may be produced. Diesel or other oils, steel, carbon black, ZnO and synthesis gas are recovered; all of which can be feed streams to other processes. This process avoids the inefficient procedure of cutting the tyres or other plastic composites into small pieces before treatment by pyrolysis and also recovers valuable components.

Disclosed is a process for treating waste plastic materials such as whole tyres, coarsely cut tyres, large plastic pieces, plastic composites such as hoses or combinations of above into gases, liquids and solids by direct heating in a pyrolysis liquid (1) such as molten salt or molten metal. The pyrolysis system is constructed such that the segregation of the light and heavy materials occurs within the pyrolysis chamber. The carbon black is segregated from the pyrolysis vapours via a cyclone and fractions of carbon black may be obtained by installing a number of cyclones in series so that different qualities of carbon black may be produced. Diesel or other oils, steel, carbon black, ZnO and synthesis gas are recovered; all of which can be feed streams to other processes. This process avoids the inefficient procedure of cutting the tyres or other plastic composites into small pieces before treatment by pyrolysis and also recovers valuable components.

A method and apparatus for obtaining carbon fiber from carbon fiber waste (e.g., pre-preg and CFP waste). The method and apparatus use an oxygen free pyrolytic process to volatilize the epoxy resin or other matrix in which the fibers are held to liberate the fibers therefrom. The reactor has a counterflow such that the carbon fibers are moved in one direction and the off gasses are moved in the opposite direction. A combination of steam at the reactor outlet and vacuum pressure at the reactor inlet create the counter flow.

A method and apparatus for obtaining carbon fiber from carbon fiber waste (e.g., pre-preg and CFP waste). The method and apparatus use an oxygen free pyrolytic process to volatilize the epoxy resin or other matrix in which the fibers are held to liberate the fibers therefrom. The reactor has a counterflow such that the carbon fibers are moved in one direction and the off gasses are moved in the opposite direction. A combination of steam at the reactor outlet and vacuum pressure at the reactor inlet create the counter flow.

A method and apparatus for obtaining carbon fiber from carbon fiber waste (e.g., pre-preg and CFP waste). The method and apparatus selects, or is controlled to select, between using an oxygen free pyrolytic process to volatilize the epoxy resin or other matrix in which the fibers are held to liberate the fibers therefrom and, depending upon the type of pre-preg waste, using a reactor environment where the reactor atmosphere has about 1% to about 2% oxygen by volume. The reactor has a counterflow such that the carbon fibers are moved in one direction and the off gasses are moved in the opposite direction. A combination of steam at the reactor outlet and vacuum pressure at the reactor inlet create the counter flow.

A method and apparatus for obtaining carbon fiber from carbon fiber waste (e.g., pre-preg and CFP waste). The method and apparatus selects, or is controlled to select, between using an oxygen free pyrolytic process to volatilize the epoxy resin or other matrix in which the fibers are held to liberate the fibers therefrom and, depending upon the type of pre-preg waste, using a reactor environment where the reactor atmosphere has about 1% to about 2% oxygen by volume. The reactor has a counterflow such that the carbon fibers are moved in one direction and the off gasses are moved in the opposite direction. A combination of steam at the reactor outlet and vacuum pressure at the reactor inlet create the counter flow.