Abstract
This study investigates the reduction of sulphur compounds in crude tyre pyrolysis oil
through gas-phase adsorption over molecular sieve. Crude tyre pyrolysis oil was distilled at 300° C
using a bench scale distillation set-up consisting of an electric heating mantle, glass round bottom
flask and water cooled glass condenser. The glass condenser bulb was filled with steel wool and
molecular sieve pellets for effective oxidation and adsorption of sulphur compounds in the vapours
prior to condensation. It was observed that gas-phase adsorption improves total sulphur capture by
19.6%. Reduction in sharp pungent smell of the condensed distilled light fractions is justified by
21.7% total sulphur removal of low boiling point mercaptans and sulphides during moisture removal
stage. High boiling point and large molecular size sulphur compounds in the distilled fractions can be
further reduced by 3.6% using liquid phase adsorption over activated carbon black.