Vitrification of organics-containing wastes
Abstract
A process is described for stabilizing organics-containing waste materials and recovering metals therefrom, and a waste glass product made according to the process is also disclosed. Vitrification of wastes such as organic ion exchange resins, electronic components and the like can be accomplished by mixing at least one transition metal oxide with the wastes, and, if needed, glass formers to compensate for a shortage of silicates or other glass formers in the wastes. The transition metal oxide increases the rate of oxidation of organic materials in the wastes to improve the composition of the glass-forming mixture: at low temperatures, the oxide catalyzes oxidation of a portion of the organics in the waste; at higher temperatures, the oxide dissolves and the resulting oxygen ions oxidize more of the organics; and at vitrification temperatures, the metal ions conduct oxygen into the melt to oxidize the remaining organics. In addition, the transition metal oxide buffers the redox potential of the glass melt so that metals such as Au, Pt, Ag, and Cu separate from the melt in the metallic state and can be recovered. After the metals are recovered, the remainder of the melt is allowed to cool and may subsequently be disposedmore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 527775
- Patent Number(s):
- 5662579
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-408,157; TRN: 97:016704
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 2 Sep 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 05 NUCLEAR FUELS; ORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS; VITRIFICATION; WASTE FORMS; MATERIALS RECOVERY; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; OXIDATION; GOLD; PLATINUM; SILVER; COPPER; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
Citation Formats
Bickford, D F. Vitrification of organics-containing wastes. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Bickford, D F. Vitrification of organics-containing wastes. United States.
Bickford, D F. Tue .
"Vitrification of organics-containing wastes". United States.
@article{osti_527775,
title = {Vitrification of organics-containing wastes},
author = {Bickford, D F},
abstractNote = {A process is described for stabilizing organics-containing waste materials and recovering metals therefrom, and a waste glass product made according to the process is also disclosed. Vitrification of wastes such as organic ion exchange resins, electronic components and the like can be accomplished by mixing at least one transition metal oxide with the wastes, and, if needed, glass formers to compensate for a shortage of silicates or other glass formers in the wastes. The transition metal oxide increases the rate of oxidation of organic materials in the wastes to improve the composition of the glass-forming mixture: at low temperatures, the oxide catalyzes oxidation of a portion of the organics in the waste; at higher temperatures, the oxide dissolves and the resulting oxygen ions oxidize more of the organics; and at vitrification temperatures, the metal ions conduct oxygen into the melt to oxidize the remaining organics. In addition, the transition metal oxide buffers the redox potential of the glass melt so that metals such as Au, Pt, Ag, and Cu separate from the melt in the metallic state and can be recovered. After the metals are recovered, the remainder of the melt is allowed to cool and may subsequently be disposed of. The product has good leaching resistance and can be disposed of in an ordinary landfill, or, alternatively, used as a filler in materials such as concrete, asphalt, brick and tile. 1 fig.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 1997},
month = {Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 1997}
}