History
The vision of the Company’s founder was clear from the beginning – the need to solve the pressing global environmental problem of waste tires in an environmentally friendly and commercially sustainable manner.
RIPP has been in the tire conversion business for over a decade. Having studied numerous other technologies (including vulcanization and crumbing), pyrolysis was chosen as the optimal solution based on product value – pyrolysed oil, carbon black, and steel are all produced as valuable commodity feedstocks with substantial commercial value.
Currently, there is no commercially viable and sustainable process that transforms a used tire into these completely useable end-products. By comparison, the Company’s proprietary, patented technology provides a viable and attractive solution. The Company has spent several years of research and development perfecting its pyrolysis system to cleanly and completely transform used vehicle tires into attractive marketable products.
Vacuum pyrolysis itself is no longer considered an emerging technology; it has been studied and applied since the early 1980's. Over the past several years RIPP has invested considerable human, technical, and financial resources to perfect its unique, innovative continuous feed, controlled atomospheric pyrolysis process, and has completed all pre-production-phase activities.
Over the past year, the following achievements have been realized:
- Optimization of operating parameters for the RIPP process in Alstom’s Pre-Production Facility in Illinois, including residence time, optimum operating temperature profile and other criteria necessary to achieve the best combination of products.
- Product analysis including:
- Oil samples analyzed for composition and an assessment made of the technical and economic benefit of primary distillation to enhance its quality and value.
- Carbon black samples tested according to ASTM carbon black standards. Samples were also tested in various rubber compounding formulations for technical evaluation, application and ongoing marketing purposes.
- Carbon black samples assessed and evaluated for other market applications, including: pigment; ink; UV stabilizers; and fuel.
- Operational mass and energy data collected and finalized.
- Additional processing of post-pyrolysis carbon black at various process equipment manufacturing sites was conducted to optimize equipment selection and design including material preparation, crushing, steel/metal removal, milling, agglomeration, as well as conveying and packaging.
Having successfully completed all pre-production activities, the Company is in now transitioning to a commercial-scale phase, including constructing and commissioning the first full-scale scrap tire conversion facility in Kingston, Canada.
- The Company has successfully completed all pre-production process verification activities.
- RIPP’s main end products (carbon black,oil, and gas) have been independently tested and verified by expert third parties.
- The Company has secured an attractive facility location in Kingston, Ontario.
- Key partners in developing and constructing the flagship facility have been established, including Alstom Power and AMEC.
- The Company secured additional financing for its ongoing commercialization activities.
- Development of commercial-scale scrap tire conversion facility is underway.