Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing discarded rubber tires and rubber tire material to reduce the same to a pulverulent form of sufficient quality fiber the manufacture of other articles. Principally the rubber tire is subjected to repeated compression against the metal strand component of the tires thus causing the metal stranding to cut into or chew the rubber into a pulverulent form. During the processing of the rubber tire material it is broken down to the point that its constituents such as metal fibers and polymer fibers are separated therefrom. The pulverized rubber, together with its separated constituents may then be classified and the constituents separated for further use. The rubber tire processing apparatus incorporates an external housing structure and a rubber processing drum that is rotatable therein.

Abstract: A novel chemical extraction/washing process is described for detoxifying lead contaminated materials, and in particular, for detoxifying broken lead/acid storage battery casings made from ebonite. In particular, the preferred process of the invention enables the lead content of broken ebonite battery casing material to be reduced to the point that the processed ebonite is no longer a potential harzardous waste by any EPA definition. In the preferred embodiment, the novel process of the invention makes use of the chemical leaching capabilities of nitric acid, and the water solubility of lead nitrates, to dissolve and then wash away the combined lead compounds that contaminate and render hazardous broken ebonite battyer casing material, leaving a clean and usable ebonite product for recycling.