System and method for cryogenic cooling using liquefied natural gas

The invention generally relates to the generation of cryogenic cooling of materials by liquefied natural gas (LNG) for purposes of recycling and, more particularly, to the application of cryogenic cooling to the cryogenic grinding of scrap tires. A system and method for cooling a material with liquefied natural gas where liquefied natural gas and the material to be cryogenically cooled are brought into direct or indirect contact and cooled material and a combination of liquefied natural gas and natural gas are removed. Cooling may also employ an intermediate cooling medium such as a refrigerant or nitrogen. In the case of converting rubber in tires to rubber crumb, cooling of the products of a hammer mill and a fine grind mill by nitrogen subsequent to the cooling of nitrogen by a refrigerant and the refrigerant by liquefied natural gas converts shredded tires into recyclable rubber crumb.