Microbial desulfurization of powdered waste tire by thiobacillus species

摘要

Microbial desulfurization of powdered waste tire was studied for recycling of waste tire. For the devulcanization of waste tire, 3 kinds of thiobacillus species(T. intermedius, T. perometabolis, T. thiooxidans) were employed. According to the result, T. perometabolis was the most efficient in desulfurization. In varying the content of powdered waste tire to culture medium, about 30 percent of sulfur was removed by T. perometabolis when treated for 30 days, at 30 deg C, pH 6.0 in 20 g tire/L. Consequently, for identifying possibility of the substitution for natural rubber, the mechanical properties (elongation, tensile strength, optimum cure time, crosslink density) of powdered waste tire which was mixed with natural rubber compounds were measured. According to the result, most mechanical properties showed 15 percent difference from natural rubber compounds until 10 phr of desulfurized waste tire treated in 20 g tire/L for 30 days was added. Compared with the mechanical properties of untreated waste tire which was mixed with natural rubber compounds, those of desulfurized waste tire were similar to natural rubber properties. So desulfurized waste tire showed the possibility of substitution for natural rubber.