Method of recycling industrial waste
AssigneeEnviroscience, Inc.
InventorsBobby H. Sims, Carl T. Philipp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for the production of metal alloys, metal oxides and slag-based products, such as mineral wool, from industrial waste materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process for recycling industrial waste materials into valuable commercial products, including, pure metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, and a molten slag comprising non-reducible metal oxides which thereafter can be converted to vitreous fiber and shot. Industrial waste materials suitable for use in the present invention include metal-containing waste products, particularly inorganic hazardous waste materials. The present process accomplishes total recycling in such a manner that the entire industrial waste material is consumed and converted to useful products.
Claims23
A process for recycling industrial waste materials comprising:
- a) blending (1) one or more industrial waste materials comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of reducible metals, volatile metals and nonreducible metal oxides, (2) at least one carbonaceous reducing agent and (3) at least one primary fluxing agent, into a homogenous mass;
- b) forming and shaping said homogenous mass into particles having an average mean diameter not greater than four inches;
- c) curing and drying said particles at a temperature of from about 170.degree. to 240.degree. F. for a period of time such that the resulting particles have a moisture content of less than about 10.0%;
- d) heating and melting the resulting particles at a temperature of from about 1,660.degree. to about 3,100.degree. F. such that a reducing atmosphere is created within the structure of the particles from the release of said reducing agent, thereby forming (1) reducible metals, (2) volatile metals (3) a molten slag comprising non-reducible metal oxides and (4) exhaust products;
- and
- e) separating and recovering at least one component selected from the group consisting of (1) reducible metals, (2) volatile metals, (3) exhaust products, and (4) a molten slag comprising non-reducible metal oxides, resulting from said heating and melting step (d).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.