Orion Kicks Off ‘Circular Carbon Black’ Production in China

Orion SA has officially commenced the production of ‘circular carbon black’ at its facility located in Qingdao, China. This significant development follows the plant’s ISSC+-certification. The Qingdao plant is now manufacturing three specific grades: Ecorax Circular 200, 210, and 215. The key innovation here is the use of tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) as the primary feedstock for these grades. Orion CEO Corning Painter highlighted that this new capability in China is a crucial step towards offering circular carbon black products on a global scale, providing greater flexibility to meet the increasing demand for sustainable products without compromising on the expected performance, consistency, and quality. Orion asserts it is the first carbon black producer to utilize 100% TPO for manufacturing and to commercialize multiple ISSC+-certified grades derived from alternative feedstocks across its worldwide plants. This expansion into China builds upon the company’s substantial enhancements to its circular production capacity in Europe last year, which included the launch of large-scale Ecorax grade production at its Jaslo, Poland facility. Orion states that these circular alternatives enable tire manufacturers to incorporate more sustainable materials into their products without sacrificing performance. Both the Qingdao and Jaslo facilities are reportedly equipped with dedicated infrastructure, featuring separate storage tanks for TPO and carbon black oil. Pedro Riveros, SVP rubber carbon black, explained that the feedstocks are introduced into the reactor via separate streams in precisely controlled doses. Orion’s technology allows for the modulation of the blending ratio between TPO and carbon black oil, enabling more accurate measurement of TPO content and ensuring consistent quality. Riveros also indicated plans to bolster Orion’s feedstock supply network within Europe, noting the company’s investments in TPO production and its role as an off-taker of circular feedstock at multiple European sites.