Process for remediation of lead-contaminated soil and waste battery casings
US5370724A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/84
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Lead-contaminated soil and battery casings are remediated using a plasma arc furnace which pyrolyzes the soil and waste battery casings so as to form a vitrified slag and a combustible gas, respectively. The combustible gas along with volatilized lead (and other heavy metals which may be present) are transferred to, and used as a primary fuel by, a conventional smelting furnace. The volatilized lead that is entrained in the combustible gas is thus transferred to the recovery and environmental protection/control equipment associated with the smelting furnace. The soil, on the other hand, is convened into a non-toxic (i.e., according to the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) vitrified slag by the plasma arc which may be crushed and used as a commercial material (e.g., roadway aggregate, asphalt filler material and the like) or simply transferred to a landfill where it poses no environmental threat.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.