Continuous rotary vacuum retort apparatus and method of use

A chemical processing and reaction apparatus for continuously extracting at least one volatile contaminant from a contaminated substance comprising:

• a rotary retort, having an entrance and an exit, adapted to rotate about a central axis;
• at least two airlocks in communication with the rotary retort, including a first airlock disposed before the entrance and a second airlock disposed after the exit;
• a vacuum generator in communication with the rotary retort capable of maintaining a vacuum of between about 2.25 mm Hg and 735 mm Hg within the apparatus;
• and
• a heater in communication with the rotary retort adapted to heat the contaminated material in the rotary retort to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least one volatile contaminant.

A method for minimizing the amount of atmospheric gasses being delivered to an off vapor treatment system from a rotary retort that separates at least one volatile contaminant from a contaminated material disposed within the rotary retort, wherein the rotary retort has an entrance and an exit, the method which comprises the steps of:

• (a) loading contaminated material in a first airlock in communication with the entrance;
• (b) evacuating the first airlock;
• (c) moving contaminated material through the first airlock into the retort;
• (d) applying a vacuum of between about 2.25 mm Hg and 735 mm Hg to the contaminated material in the rotary retort;
• (e) applying heat to the contaminated material to render the internal temperature within the rotary retort greater than ambient temperature and sufficient to volatize at least one contaminant;
• (f) removing each volatized contaminant from the retort and sending the contaminant to the off vapor treatment system;
• (g) moving the decontaminated material through a second airlock in communication with the exit.

An apparatus that mininimizes the introduction of at least one atmospheric gas into an off vapor treatment system comprising:

• a rotary retort, having an entrance and an exit, adapted to rotate about a central axis;
• at least two airlocks, including a first airlock disposed before the entrance and a second airlock disposed after the exit, wherein the airlocks minimize the entry of atmospheric gas;
• a vacuum generator in communication with the rotary retort capable of maintaining a vacuum of between about 2.25 mm Hg and 735 mm Hg within the apparatus;
• a heater in communication with the rotary retort adapted to heat contaminated material disposed within the rotary retort to a temperature sufficient to separate at least one volatile contaminant from the contaminated material;
• and
• at least one transfer pipe at least partially disposed within the rotary retort and in communication with the off-vapor treatment system.

A method of separating at least one volatile contaminant from a contaminated material disposed within a rotary retort having an entrance, an exit, and a pair of rotating to or from non-rotating junctions, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) moving the contaminated material from a first airlock in communication with the entrance;
• (b) applying a vacuum of between about 2.25 mm Hg and 735 mm Hg to the contaminated material in the rotary retort;
• (c) applying heat to the contaminated material to render the internal temperature within the rotary retort greater than ambient temperature and sufficient to volatize at least one contaminant;
• (d) removing each volatized contaminant from the rotary retort;
• and
• (e) moving the decontaminated material through a second airlock in communication with the exit.