Tokai Carbon plans 2027 pilot plant for recycled carbon black from tires

Tokai Carbon is targeting a 2027 start-up for a pilot plant producing eco carbon black, an upgraded recycled carbon black from tire pyrolysis. The material aims to match virgin carbon black in reinforcement performance, potentially giving end-of-life tires a higher-value recycling route. The pilot is an intermediate step toward a 5 kilotonne per annum demonstration facility planned for fiscal 2032, developed with Bridgestone, Kyushu University, and Okayama University under NEDO support. The main technical challenge is removing impurities from recovered carbon black while imparting the required tire-grade properties. Tokai's secondary processing technology is central to this effort. If successful, the process could reduce reliance on virgin carbon black and lower emissions from carbon black production, which is typically energy-intensive. The pilot will reveal whether the technology can scale commercially and at what cost.