Lukas Bichler

Dr. Lukas Bichler received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering (specializing in Manufacturing, Materials and Solid Mechanics) from Ryerson University, Toronto. Upon graduation, he received NSERC-Postdoctoral fellowship, tenured at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto.

Repurposing waste products from mining  

“Recycled carbon from mining tires costs less, functions just as well, and reduces waste and greenhouse gases”  

Mining tires are composed of a significant percentage of carbon and are built and designed to be indestructible, costing upwards of $50,000 each. The mining industry is continuously searching for better ways to effectively and environmentally repurpose mining tires. Professor Lukas Bichler and his research group have partnered with the KalTire Mining Tire Group (KT-MTG) in aims to further contribute to waste reduction, greenhouse gas reduction and opportunities for local sustainable solutions for scrapping mining tires.    

KT-MTG has developed a process where mining tires can be recycled and broken down to synthetic fuel, steel and carbon residue. Many tire companies are not benefiting from the carbon from recycled tires, instead recyclers focus more on tires as a source for diesel. Bichler is seizing the opportunity to recover and clean the carbon into a reusable commodity for a wider application across the industry. For example, carbon from tires can be cleaned and adjusted, then used as an additive to battery electrodes. These electrodes will cost significantly less than new ones, while keeping the same quality. Through innovation and technological advancement, UBC and KalTire are working together to improve mining tire recycling. Developing a way to recover and control the quality of carbon will have an extremely net-positive environmental impact for us all.