# US 5,582,118 A · Removal of organic contaminants from solid particles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,582,118 A - Document ID: US5582118A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/280,227 - Filed: 1994-07-25 - Granted: 1996-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 1992-01-25 - Assignees: Torftech Limited - Inventors: Martin P. Atkins; David A. Kidd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5582118A ## CPC - F23G 5/30: having a fluidised bed - B09C 1/06: thermally - E21B 21/066: {with further treatment of the solids, e.g. for disposal} - E21B 41/005: {Waste disposal systems} - F23G 5/32: the waste being subjected to a whirling movement, e.g. cyclonic incinerators - F23G 7/05: of waste oils - F23G 7/14: of contaminated soil, e.g. by oil - F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION - B09C: RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL (gatherers for removing stone or the like from the soil A01B43/00; sterilising soil by steam A01G11/00; removing undesirable matter, e.g. rubbish, from the land E01H15/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Organic contaminants of solid particles, especially oil in drill cuttings, are removed by passing the contaminated particles into a processing chamber, generating a circumferentially directed flow of fluid within the chamber to cause the particles to circulate in the chamber in a turbulent compact band, incinerating the particles and removing them substantially free from organic contaminants from the chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for removing organic contaminants from solid particles comprising said contaminants, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing solid uncontaminated particles to a processing chamber; (b) generating a circumferentially directed flow of fluid within the chamber to cause the uncontaminated particles to circulate about an axis of the chamber in a turbulent compact band; (c) providing solid particles contaminated with an organic contaminant to the processing chamber subsequent to steps (a) and (b); (d) generating a circumferentially directed flow of fluid within the chamber to cause the particles to circulate about an axis of the chamber in a turbulent compact band; (e) incinerating the particles within the chamber; and (f) removing the particles substantially free from organic contaminants from the chamber under gravity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein said particles contaminated with organic contaminants contain oil and water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method according to claim 2 wherein said particles comprise 1-20% hydrocarbon oil and 1-20% water. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein said particles comprising contaminants are drill cuttings contaminated with oil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein said particles comprising contaminants are selected from the group consisting of sand, pebbles and soil each contaminated with oil. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein said particles substantially free from organic contaminants are removed after incineration via a central discharge or a side exit port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the particles are incinerated in step (e) at a temperature in the range 600.degree. to 1200.degree. C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7 wherein the particles are incinerated in step (e) at a temperature in the range 650.degree. to 950.degree. C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the chamber is at 950.degree.-1200.degree. C. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein in step (d) said flow of fluid causes the particles to circulate in said band about a substantially vertical axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein said organic contaminant comprises oil, which is volatilised in said band and is incinerated in an upper part of said chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein in step (d) said flow of fluid causes the particles to circulate in said band about a substantially vertical axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein in a step (e) said oil is incinerated at a temperature in the chamber of 950.degree.-1200.degree. C. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12 wherein in step (e) the band temperature was 650.degree.-950.degree. C. ### Claim 15 A method for removing oil contaminants from drill cuttings containing off, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing solid uncontaminated particles to a processing chamber; (b) generating a circumferentially directed flow of fluid within the chamber to cause the uncontaminated particles to circulate about an axis of the chamber in a turbulent compact band; (c) providing said cutting to the processing chamber subsequent to steps (a) and (b); (d) generating a circumferentially directed flow of fluid within said chamber to cause said cuttings to circulate about an axis of the chamber in a turbulent compact band; (e) heating said cuttings in said band in an oxidizing gas to effect incineration within the chamber and produce particles substantially free from oil; and (f) removing said particles from said chamber under gravity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5, wherein in step (d), said flow of fluid causes the particles to circulate in said band about a substantially vertical axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, wherein the particles are incinerated in step (e) at a temperature in the range 600.degree.-1200.degree. C. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein the particles are incinerated in step (e) at a temperature in the range of 650.degree.-950.degree. C. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein in step (d) said flow of fluid causes the particles to circulate in said band about a substantially vertical axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the particles are incinerated in step (e) at a temperature in the range of 600.degree.-1200.degree. C. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein in the particles are incinerated in step (e) at a temperature range 650.degree. to 950.degree. C. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said organic contaminant is a liquid hydrocarbon.