CSRC expects itself as pioneer in practicing circular economy. We are no longer satisfied with the past circular economy model. To respond to the global trend of net zero carbon emissions and fulfill our mission of environmental sustainability, CSRC will integrate circular economy into business operations and launch the “New Circular Economy Model.” Starting from the raw material aspect, we collaborate with scrap tires recycling companies, where recovered carbon black and recovered oil is generated. New carbon black is then reproduced using the previous recovered materials. The technology exclusive to CSRC is used to adjust the formula of carbon black and reproduce carbon black into new carbon-reduced carbon black. This aims to achieve closed-loop system of raw material and meet the sustainable material use requirements from tire manufacturer.

Over 130 countries pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Numerous countries proposed plans and schedules for banning fossil fuel vehicles or adopting electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate environmental impact. Motorization of wheel transportation is already inevitable. On top of that, multinational vehicle manufacturers are planning to include the use of sustainable/ recycled material and energy. Carbon black is used as an important raw material of tire. Carbon black recycling means to realize net zero carbon emissions from the source in the production value chain.

New Circular Economy Ecosphere

Carbon Black circular economy

Carbon black circulation: Conversion of bottom oil into carbon black feedstock oil

The value chain of carbon black is a model of the circular economy. Its raw material is sourcing from residues such as bottom oil from the oil refining process in upstream petrochemical and steel processing industry. After going through chemical treatment and reuse, the terminal residues with low utilization value are instead transformed into high-value carbon black, as well as producing additional steam and electricity for clean and green energy. The temperature of an average incinerator generally reaches to 600-800° C. After incineration of industrial waste, air pollutant will still be discharged. In comparison, the reactor furnace of the carbon black process can reach up to 1,800° C. Many toxic substances, such as dioxins that damage the environment, can be completely removed from bottom oil under high temperature combustion, when CSRC burns residues (bottom oil) from petrochemical and steel industry. The carbon black circulation process not only reduces the amount of waste and lowers the risk of environmental pollution, but it also drives new industries and technology, creating an economic model for resource circulation.

In 2022, CSRC purchased 310,008 tonnes of bottom oil, fuel oil and lubricant form the upstream supplier, including 183,894 tonnes used by Linyuan Advanced Plant, 72,256 tonnes used by Maanshan Plant and 53,858 tonnes used by Anshan Plant.

Circulation and recycled raw construction material: Waste is recycled and reproduced as the downstream raw construction material

Certain solid wastes generated from the manufacturing process in CSRC were made into recycled material. For instance, precipitator ash can be removed by physical treatment. Sludge and refractory material were made into raw construction material after heating and physical treatment. Waste thermal insulation wool were recycled into building materials after physical treatment. Desulfurization gypsum were made into raw material of cement manufacturing after treated by air pollution prevention equipment. Recycled material circulation reduces the buried or processed waste from CSRC and effectively reduces environmental impact and energy and resource consumption.

For example, Linyuan Advanced Plant In 2022, 557 tonnes of waste were made into raw construction material after heating and physical treatment. 310 tonnes of them were made into CLSM (Control Low-Strength Material) after physical treatment.

Both Maanshan Plant and Anshan Plant use desulfurization and denitrification systems in their production lines. The desulfurization gypsum, a type of desulfurized waste, was then generated during the process stage. It is confirmed that desulfurization gypsum meets the raw material standard for cement process after third-party verification. We build a partnership of circular and recycling with local cement plants and transported 2,365 tonnes of desulfurization gypsum to our cement plant partner in 2022 as raw material for cement production.

In recovering waste heat, steam is generated for use in the process. The remaining steam is also used for electricity generation in the area around the plant or sold to neighboring partners

As for energy recycling, each plant area is equipped with electricity cogeneration boilers, which use process tail gas as fuel. The use of cogeneration boilers can achieve circular economy not only by effectively improve utilization rate of energy, but also make full use of the waste gas generated by the process, recover heat while treating waste gas.. Due to the low combustible content of carbon black tail gas, it is difficult to ignite, and it also contains a large amount of water, especially because its own gas pressure is low and the fluctuation rate is large, the furnace temperature and pressure required for combustion are relatively high, difficult to burn fuel and blow-off easily.

To ensure safety in the use of carbon black tail gas combustion and the improvement of efficiency, CSRC uses this special "in-line waste heat boiler" to exchange heat with the flue gas and reduce the temperature of the flue gas before entering the flue gas filter bag. The required amount of water that must be injected for cooling is reduced, while heat recovering happens at the same time, to reduce energy consumption in the plant. The boiler can also produce steam for heating oil tanks or carbon black production lines. The excess steam can be reused for power generation. In addition to being used for its own operation, it is also sold for use in neighboring factories, reducing air pollution caused using fuel oil in neighboring factories, achieving the positive benefits of improving energy resource reuse and reducing environmental impact.

Water balance project and condensate recycling

Since 2020, CSRC Linyuan Advanced Plant began to implement the water balance project. Flow meters were added to Linyuan Advanced Plant’s process equipment to record actual water use in the plant area. Our goal is zero discharge of wastewater. We reduce risks related to water use under the threat of climate change. We supply steam to neighboring partners, the partner then sends the condensate produced by its process back to Linyuan Advanced Plant for reuse. This achieves the economic benefits of recycling water resources. 6,469 m3 of condensate was used in 2022 (0.5% of total water withdrawal from Linyuan Advanced Plant). It is estimated that partners to provide approximately 2 tonnes of condensate per hour (The maximum amount is 20 tonnes).