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SHIFT TO RENEWABLES Additionally, although many end-of- an aim to realise horizontal recycling
Evonik inks deal to source green hydrogen for hydrogen life tyres are effectively utilised as fuel of tyres.
through thermal recovery, this process
The facility will demonstrate the
peroxide plant in the Netherlands leads to CO emissions. With the anti- technology needed for establishing and
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cipated growth in automotive and
transportation demand, tyre demand is optimising precise pyrolysis of end-
German chemicals group, Evonik, sustainable solutions for the fi rst two is expected to rise correspondingly in the of-life tyres, which involves obtaining
has signed a term sheet with Dutch more straightforward. Sourcing green future. These efforts are focused on en- fi scal year 2032. Additionally, the pro- tyre-derived oil and recovered carbon
company, VoltH2, to advance green hydrogen is the tricky part. Fortunately, hancing resource circulation by further ject will focus on developing special black from end-of-life tyres.
hydrogen production at the Delfzijl we have found in VoltH2 a partner enabling the recycling of vCB, a key polymer/carbon composites that enable
chemical park in the Netherlands. that has the local resources, technical raw material for tyres. the reuse of carbon black without the Since 2022, Bridgestone has been
know-how, and vision to optimally col- need for pyrolysis of end-of-life tyres. advancing its efforts in chemical
According to the agreement, VoltH2 laborate on a cleaner, greener industry.” In this project, Tokai Carbon will Through these initiatives, the joint pro- recycling of end-of-life tyres to help
will construct a 50-MW electrolyser leverage the technologies and exper- ject members want to realise advanced realise a circular economy. In 2023, the
near Evonik’s hydrogen peroxide (H O ) will be made available to VoltH2’s Mr. André Jurres, VoltH2 Founder tise it has developed through carbon recycling of limited resources and help company introduced a test unit at the
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plant. Evonik will then source a other customers around the clock. and Managing Director, added, black manufacturing, combining them reduce the CO emissions associated Bridgestone Innovation Park (BIP) in
signifi cant portion of its hydrogen de- “Thanks to this systems-integrated with the knowledge and technologies with the production of carbon black and Kodaira City, Tokyo, and it has been
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mand from the electrolyser, which will The collaboration aims not only to approach, large industrial companies of Bridgestone, Kyushu University, the recycling of end-of-life tyres. further developing technology to obtain
start operations at the end of 2027. The forward Evonik’s own sustainability like Evonik are demonstrating how to and Okayama University. Together, the tyre-derived oil and recovered carbon
facility will be the fi rst green hydrogen agenda, but also to form, together with optimise the use of sustainable electri- joint project members aim to develop Demo plant for precise pyrolysis of black through testing precise pyrolysis
water electrolysis plant at an industrial VoltH2, the nucleus of a wider hydro- city and its natural allies, such as green technology to remove impurities from used tyres of end-of-life tyres. The oil is refi ned
scale in the north of the Netherlands. gen network at this important industrial hydrogen production”. rCB and produce eCB with superior In a related development, to produce chemical products, such as
hub. rubber reinforcing properties. Bridgestone said it will build a pilot butadiene, a raw material of synthetic
For the interim, Evonik’s remaining Evonik’s Active Oxygens business demonstration plant for precise pyro- rubber. This creates the possibility of
hydrogen needs will continue to be pro- Evonik Peroxide Netherlands’ line has already implemented various The project’s objective is to estab- lysis of end-of-life tyres at its plant in reusing and recycling the oil and the
vided by its own conventional on-site Managing Director Mr. Peter Metten measures to slash emissions from lish a demonstration plant capable of Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The recovered carbon black as raw mate-
hydrogen production. This solution will explained, “We want to switch our its footprint. By the end of 2024, for producing 5,000 tons/year of eCB by plant will start operating in 2027 with rials of tyres.
ensure uninterrupted supply until green production over entirely to renewa- example, 90% of the electricity used in
hydrogen capacity grows to fully cover ble resources. By introducing green its production was sourced from renew- LONG TERM AGREEMENT
demand at all times. hydrogen at the Delfzijl plant, we are ables. Options to construct a large heat ExxonMobil in talks with Trammo to sign offtake deal for its
taking a signifi cant step toward this pump at Delfzijl for steam generation
VoltH2 will also construct a tube goal. That’s because producing H O are currently being explored. The busi- proposed US low-carbon ammonia project
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trailer fi lling station on Evonik’s pre- requires three critical resources: elec- ness line is also pursuing solutions for
mises. The hydrogen in tube trailers tricity, steam, and hydrogen. Finding green hydrogen at a number of its sites. Exxon Mobil and Trammo, France’s in 2029, subject to supportive govern-
logistics and trading fi rm with a leading ment policy, regulatory permitting, and
COLLABORATION position in seaborne ammonia trade, market conditions.
Bridgestone and partners launch project to enhance have signed a Heads of Agreement “Our Baytown project continues
(HOA) to advance discussions for
performance properties of recycled carbon black Trammo’s long-term offtake of 300-kt to make signifi cant strides, attracting
to 500-kt of low-carbon ammonia per more and more customer interest,” said
Japanese tyre major, Bridgestone, black (vCB) that is derived from year from ExxonMobil’s Baytown, Mr. Barry Engle, President of Exxon-
and Tokai Carbon have joined hands petroleum and coal. Texas (USA) facility. fertiliser feedstock and for other Mobil Low Carbon Solutions.
with Kyushu University and Okayama key industrial applications.
University have launched a technology Efforts are already underway to The facility is expected to produce Trammo’s President Christophe
development project to perform secon- pyrolyse polymer products including virtually carbon-free hydrogen – with The Exxon Mobil facility is ex- Savi said, “Both companies have a
dary processing on recovered carbon rubber from end-of-life tyres to recover approximately 98% of carbon dioxide pected to be the world’s largest of its common interest in developing clean and
black (rCB) extracted from polymer and reuse rCB. However, practical (CO ) removed –and will use this low- kind, capable of producing up to 1-bil- decarbonized solutions for consumers
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products such as end-of-life tyres application of rCB in new tyres still carbon hydrogen to make low-carbon lion cubic feet (bcf) daily of low-car- worldwide, including the European
containing rubber. faces challenges. Among them, rCB ammonia. Trammo will leverage its bon hydrogen and more than 1-mtpa market, and this partnership furthers
has lower rubber reinforcement perfor- market and logistical expertise to of low-carbon ammonia. A fi nal in- Trammo’s goal of making available
The project aims to convert these with rubber reinforcement properties mance compared to vCB, primarily due deliver and sell in Europe and worldwide vestment decision by ExxonMobil is in the market signifi cant volumes of
materials into eco Carbon Black (eCB) equivalent to those of virgin carbon to the presence of numerous impurities. this low-carbon ammonia for use as expected in 2025 with anticipated startup low-carbon ammonia by 2030.”

164 Chemical Weekly February 11, 2025 Chemical Weekly February 11, 2025 165

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