Patent · US Expired

Compositions and methods for waste treatment

US5649894A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateMay 1, 1995
Grant dateJul 22, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 1, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W30/91
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Methods for waste treatment and compositions of stabilized waste elements are provided, typically for the disposal of arsenical wastes. Arsenic trioxide waste produced as a by-product of metal extraction is slurried in water for from 6 to 24 hours with finely divided quicklime to produce nonvolatile calcium arsenate (III). An excess of CaO stoichiometry with As is used to consume secondary waste species such as sulphate, silicate and iron oxides. The precipitated arsenate is oven dried at 120.degree. C. and then calcined in air between 15 minutes to several hours at 1000.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. respectively to oxidize arsenate (III) to arsenate (V) as Ca.sub.5 (AsO.sub.4).sub.3 (OH) (an apatite) as the major arsenic immobilization phase, with minor arsenic incorporated in Ca.sub.3 (AsO.sub.4).sub.2. Calcium sulphate anhydrate (sulphate immobilization) and calcium iron oxide (iron immobilization) are also produced. Tertiary immobilization is achieved milling or fracturing and incorporating the apatite an encapsulant consisting of ordinary portland cement and flyash. After curing for one month in steel drums in a water saturated atmosphere, the waste form is ready to be transpor…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.