US 5,308,452 A · Photopolymer washout fluid solvent distillation apparatus and method

Abstract

A waste photopolymer plate washout fluid solvent distillation apparatus includes a single enclosure enclosing a waste washout fluid container, a recovered solvent container, and a distillation unit in which waste washout is distilled by application of heat and vacuum pressure to the waste washout, and by supplying a metered supply of a surrogate solvent to the distilled waste washout as a desired solvent is distilled from the waste washout. The apparatus, by supplying the surrogate solvent to the waste washout as the desired solvent is distilled from the waste washout, enables a greater percentage of the desired solvent to be recovered from the waste washout than has been heretofore possible with prior art apparatus, and also enables the waste washout to be disposed of as a liquid.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for treating waste photopolymer plate washout fluid containing a first solvent, for recovering the first solvent from the waste fluid while maintaining the fluidity of the waste fluid, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving and distilling the waste fluid;
means for supplying heat to the distilling means and to the waste fluid contained in the distilling means to distill the first solvent from the waste fluid and concentrate the waste fluid;
means for removing the first solvent distilled from the waste fluid from the distilling means;
and,
means for supplying a second solvent different from the first solvent to the concentrated waste fluid contained in the distilling means to dilute the concentrated waste fluid and maintain the fluidity of the concentrated waste fluid.

2 more elements

An apparatus for treating waste photopolymer plate washout fluid for recovering a first solvent from the waste fluid while maintaining the fluidity of the waste fluid, the apparatus comprising:

a tank for receiving an distilling waste photopolymer plate washout fluid in an interior of the tank;
a heating assembly connected with the tank for supplying heat to the tank interior and to waste fluid contained in the tank interior to distill the first solvent from the waste fluid and thereby reduce the waste fluid to a concentrate;
a vacuum pump communicating with the tank interior for supplying vacuum pressure to the tank interior and to waste fluid contained in the tank interior to assist in distilling the first solvent from the waste fluid and thereby reduce the waste fluid to a concentrated, and to draw the first solvent out of the tank interior;
and
a container of a second solvent different from the first solvent communicating with the tank interior for supplying the second solvent to the tank interior to replace distilled first solvent drawn out of the tank interior by the vacuum pump and to dilute waste concentrate contained in the tank interior.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Photopolymer washout fluid solvent distillation apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Photopolymer washout fluid solvent distillation apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20