Process for cullet beneficiation
AssigneeOwens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
InventorsCarol A Click, Udaya Vempati, Edward A Ordway
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for cullet beneficiation by precipitation. A mass of cullet is melted to form a body of molten glass having a heavy metal con ration of greater than 100 ppm. A precipitate agent is introduced into the body of molten glass to form a heavy metal-containing precipitate phase and a liquid beneficiated glass phase within the body of molten glass. The precipitate phase may have a density greater than that of the liquid beneficiated glass phase. Thereafter, the liquid beneficiated glass phase is physically separated from the precipitate phase. The separated liquid beneficiated glass phase has a reduced concentration of heavy metals, as compared to the concentration of heavy metals in the body of molten glass.
Claims20
A process for cullet beneficiation that includes:
- (a) melting a mass of cullet having a heavy metal concentration of greater than 100 ppm to form a body of molten glass;
- (b) introducing a precipitate agent into said body, of molten glass to form a heavy metal-containing precipitate phase and liquid beneficiated glass phase within said body of molten glass, said precipitate phase having a density greater than that of said beneficiated glass phase;
- and then
- (c) separating said liquid beneficiated glass phase from said precipitate phase.
The process set forth in claim wherein said step (a) includes beating said mass of cullet to a temperature sufficient to volatize at least one heavy metal contained within said mass of cullet.
A process for preparing a mass of cullet for use in a downstream glass manufacturing operation that includes:
- (a) melting a mass of cullet in a pre-reactor located upstream of a continuous glass melting furnace to form a body of molten glass in said pre-reactor, said mass of cullet having a heavy metal concentration of greater than 100 ppm and including at least one heavy metal to selected from the group consisting of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and mercury (Hg);
- (b) introducing titanium, an oxide of titanium, an oxide of sulfur, or a mixture thereof, into said body of molten glass to form a heavy metal-containing precipitate phase and a liquid beneficiated glass phase within said body of molten glass, said precipitate phase including at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lead titanate (PbTiO3) and lead sulfate (PbSO4);
- (c) consolidating said precipitate phase within a bottom portion of said body of molten glass such that said liquid beneficiated glass phase is located above said precipitate phase within said pre-reactor;
- and then
- (d) separating said precipitate phase and said liquid beneficiated glass phase from each other by drawing at least a portion of said beneficiated glass phase off a top portion of said body of molten glass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.