Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for grinding and separating pre-softened refuse tire portions. The pre-softened portions are compaction ground with tapered auger positioned in a housing. The ground material which is discharged from the housing is thereafter magnetically separated into a metal refuse fraction and a rubber crumb product fraction. Optionally a second stage apparatus is provided. The second stage apparatus differs from the apparatus substantially only in respect to further comprising a second housing for enclosing said second auger which has rifling on the inner surface thereof and which runs counter to the flights of said second auger; and means for rotating said second housing counter to said second auger. Crumb rubber product from the apparatus is fed into the inlet of the second stage. A 200 mesh crumb rubber is thereafter recovered from the outlet of the second stage.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method of its use, for recovering either devulcanized rubber or purified carbon and volatiles from a crumb rubber feed material. The apparatus comprises a chamber; a vacuum pump for providing reduced pressure within the chamber; an inlet for feeding crumb rubber into the chamber; an auger for providing continuous movement of the crumb rubber though the chamber; a battery of microtrons for providing substantially precise energy input into the crumb rubber as it is continuously moved through the chamber by the auger; at least one condenser for recovering volatiles from the crumb rubber after it has been sufficiently heated by said the microtrons; and an outlet for withdrawing either a devulcanized rubber or a purified carbon product residue from the chamber.