F. No.12-40/2013-HSMDGovernment of India

Ministry of Environment & Forest & climate ChangeHSM Division

2nd Floor, Jal BlockIndira ParyavaranBhawan

JorBagh Road, AliganjNew Delhi - 110003Date: 5th June 2015

O'FFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:-Import of waste/used rubber tyres for production of TyrePyrolysis Oil.

The matter herein pertains to the import of waste/used rubbertyres for production of Tyre Pyrolysis Oil (TPO). In the Hazardous Wastes(Management, Handling and Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2008 'wastepneumatic tyres' (Basel No. B 3110) are covered under Part B, Schedule III.Accordingly, it is permitted to be imported into the country only with thepermission of MoEF. It is to be noted that DGFT vide its communicationdated 19th January 2015 informed about its no objection with respect toconsideration of such applications by the Ministry for import of waste scraptyres for pyrolysis purpose simultaneously informing about certainsafeguards being developed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.Since the issues with respect to pyrolysis are basically environmentalissues, to avoid delay in formulation of safeguard, it was decided in theMinistry to get the safeguard formulated by Technical Review Committee,which is technical committee constituted under the HW Rules, 2008 of theMinistry.

2. Accordingly, the matter was considered during the 35th and 36th

meetir.g ofTRC held on 20th February 2015 and 21st May 2015, respectively.

3. The Committee deliberated on Standard Operating Procedure withrespect to processing of waste tyres for the generation of Tyre Pyrolysis Oilformulated by Central Pollution Control Board and technical detailsforwarded from All India Scrap Recyclers Association. As per the decision ofthe 35th meeting of TRC, one of the units involved in Pyrolysis process wasalso visited by Chairman, TRC.

4. Accordingly, the Committee in its 36th Meeting deliberated on thesafeguards/ Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Tyre PyrolysisOil (TPO) processing plant on the basis of information available asmentioned above. The Committee noted that there are two types oftechnology being used in the country for generation of TPO viz. BatchProcess and Continuous Process.

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5. The Committee suggested safeguards with respect to both the kindof technology for generation of TPO so as to make them environmentallysound and simultaneously addressing the safety aspects.

6. The SOPs for the units producing pyrolysis oil and carbon-black-char including through import of waste pneumatic tyres for the purpose, asrecommended by the TRC is enclosed herewith. This shall form the basis forconsideration of any such application for authorization of such units byState Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee.

This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.

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(Dr. Shruti Rai Bhardwaj)Joint Director/ Scientist D

To,

1. Shri S.M. Bhatnagar,Joint Secretary (Customs), Central Board ofExcise and Customs, North Block, New Delhi-110 001

2. Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, DGFT, Udyog Bhawan, H-Wing, Gate No.2, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi-110 011

3. The Under Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, SupplySection, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001

4. Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), PariveshBhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi-110 032

Standard Operating Procedure for Production of Tyre Pyrolysis Oil fromScrap/waste tyres through Pyrolysis process:

(AIBatch process:

1. The feed to the pyrolysis reactor should be devoid of steel. This meansthat crumb rubber only should be fed to the reactor. Further thefeeding arrangement of the rubber crumb to the reactor should bemechanized.

11. The initial heating of the reactor should be done by liquid fuel or gas.The flue gas shoultl be released to the environment through a chimneyof at least 30 metres height.

111. After initial heating, during the pyrolysis process, the pyro gasgenerated within the plant should be used as a fuel.

lV. Excess pyro gas if any should be flared through properly designedflaring system of adequate capacity considering the emergencysituation in which the entire gas may have to be flared. The flaringshould be done at a minimum height of 30 metre.

v. Adequate instrumentation for measurement and control oftemperature and pressure along with safety interlocks in case ofincrease of temperature or pressure to cut off heating of the reactorshould be provided. Automatic control systems such as ProgrammedLogic Control (PLC)shall be adopted. It should be ensured that thereactor is under positive pressure all the time.

Vl. In order to control fugitive emissions from the reactor duringoperation, proper sealing should be ensured.

Vll. The collection of the oil from the condensers should be in closedvessel and storage also should be in closed tanks with suitable vents.There should be no manual handling of oil. Transfer of oil should bethrough pumps.

Vl11. At the end of the pyrolysis process the reactor has to be cooled beforethe removal of carbon. During this process, the reactor should bepurged with nitrogen.

lX. The removal of carbon should be started after the reactor'stemperature has come down to below SO°C.

x. The removal of carbon should be through a mechanized system and itshould be ensured that no spillage takes place during the collection ofthe carbon in the bags.

Xl. Adequate number of sensors along with alarm system should beprovided at suitable locations throughout the plant to detect anyleakage of flammable vapors from the system.

XlI. Adequate fire-fighting system like sprinklers and fire hydrant withnecessary pumping system and water storage should be provided.

Xlll. The plot size should be adequate for storage of crumb or cut t"yres, oiland carbon black in addition to the pyrolysis plant and accessories aswell as enough space for movement of fire tender in case of anyemergency. A minimum indicative size of small plant IS about 3000square metres.

XlV. The plant shall possess clearance certificates issued by concerneddepartments.

xv. The carbon black and the oil obtained from the process should besupplied only to actual users/processors.

XVl. The waste water generated in the process from condensers or anyscrubbers should be properly treated in an Effluent Treatment Plantand the sludge generated should be sent to treatment Storage disposalFacilitiy(TSDF).

XVl1. Oil containing water condensate should be treated in suitable ETP.Oily sludge/residues should be disposed through TSDF.

(B)Continuous Process:

The continuous plants operating in the country do not suffer from most of theenvironmental and safety problems encountered in the existing batch plants.However, even for the continuous pyrolysis plants the following facilities have tobe ensured:

1. The feed to the reactor is in the form of crumbs, it should be ensuredthat during handling/ transfer of the crumbs there should be suitablesystem for suction and collection of fugitive fibres.

11. The feeding system should be provided with air-lock arrangements sothat no air enters the reactor during feeding.

111. The initial heating of the reactor should be done by liquid fuel or gas. Theflue gas should be released to the environment through a chimney of atleast 30 metres height.

IV. After initial heating, during the pyrolysis process, the pyro gas generatedwithin the plant should be used as a fuel.

v. Excess pyro gas if any should be flared through properly designed flaringsystem of adequate capacity considering the emergency situation inwhich the entire gas may have to be flared. The flaring should be done ata minimum height of 30 metre.

VI. Adequate instrumentation for measurement and control of temperatureand pressure along with safety interlocks in case of increase oftemperature or pressure to cut off heating of the reactor should beprovided. Automatic control systems such as Programmed Logic Control(PLC) shall be adopted. It should be ensured that the reactor is underpositive pressure all the time.

Vll. In order to control fugitive emissions from the reactor during operation,proper sealing should be ensured.

Vlll. The collection of the oil from the condensers should be in closed vesseland storage also should be in closed tanks with suitable vents. Thereshould be no manual handling of oil. Transfer of oil should be throughpumps.

IX. The removal of carbon should be through a mechanized system and itshould be ensured that no spillage takes place during the collection ofthe carbon in the bags. Moreover an air-lock should be provided toensure no entry of air into the reactor.

x. Adequate number of sensors along with alarm system should be providedat suitable locations throughout the plant to detect any leakage offlammable vapors from the system.

Xl. Adequate fire-fighting system like sprinklers and fire hydrant withnecessary pumping system and water storage should be provided.

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Xl. Adequate fire-fighting system like sprinklers and fire hydrant withnecessary pumping system and water storage should be provided.

Xli. The plot size should be adequate for storage of crumb or cut tyres, oiland carbon black in addition to the pyrolysis plant and accessories aswell as enough space for movement of fire tender in case of anyemergency. A minimum indicative size of small plant is about 3000square metres.

Xlll. The plant shall possess clearance certificates issued by concemeddepartments.

xiv. The carbon black and the oil obtained from the process should besupplied only to actual users/processors.

xv. The waste water generated in the process from condensers or anyscrubbers should be properly treated in an effluent treatment plant andthe sludge generated should be sent to TSDF.

XVi. Oil containing water condensate should be treated in suitable ETP. Oilysludge/residues should be disposed through TSDF.