Biomass content
One of the main component of the elastomeric part of a tyre is natural rubber. Natural rubber is harvested mainly in the form of the latex from the rubber tree (hevea brasiliensis). Tyres also contains textile fibres and stearic acid, which are known sources of biomass. Tyres can thus be considered as partly derived from biomass, and their biomass content can be determined.
Quantification
14C techniques are the most reliable techniques for determining the biomass content of end‐of‐life tyres.
This technique is based on the principle that all the carbon atoms in organic materials have either a contemporary origin, proceeding directly or indirectly from the fixation of contemporary atmospheric CO2 by means of photosynthesis, or a fossil origin and were fixed millions of years ago. Every living organism contains a quantity of 14C proportional to the relative abundance of 14C in the atmosphere. Thus, the percentage of biomass in a material is directly proportional to its 14C content. Fossil fuels, however, do not contain 14C, as its half‐life is 5,700 years.[1]
Typical biomass content determine by 14C techniques
| Passenger car tyres | Truck tyres |
|---|---|
| 18–22% | 29–34% |
References
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