Waste-minimization assessment for a manufacturer of speed-reduction equipment. Environmental Research Brief

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:6164722

Kirsch, F W; Maginn, J C

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded a pilot project to assist small- and medium-size manufacturers who want to minimize their generation of hazardous waste but who lack the expertise to do so. Waste Minimization Assessment Centers (WMACs) were established at selected universities and procedures were adapted from the EPA Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manual (EPA/625/7-88/003, July 1988). The WMAC team at Colorado State University performed an assessment at a plant manufacturing speed reduction equipment -- approximately 110,000 speed reduction units/yr. Plant operations include machining and assembling parts for worn gear shafts and other shafts, worn gear bodies, hubs and housings, bearings and seals. Keyed and threaded shafts are case-hardened, ground with a thread grinder, and deburred. Component parts are washed with an aqueous cleaner before assembly, and finished assemblies are spray painted with solvent-based paints and lacquer thinner. Spent cutting fluid and sludge, including turnings, and spent wash water are shipped offsite for disposal. Spent hydraulic oil and non-aqueous cutting fluid are shipped to a recycler. Waste paint and spent lacquer thinner are shipped offsite for incineration. The team's report, detailing findings and recommendations, indicated that most waste consists of spent aqueous cutting fluid, and that the greatest savings could be obtained by ultrafiltration and recycle of spent wash water.

• Research Organization: University City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6164722
• Report Number(s): PB-92-104363/XAB; CNN: EPA-R814903
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CLEANING
COATINGS
CONTROL
CUTTING FLUIDS
FILTRATION
FLUIDS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDRAULIC FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PAINTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECYCLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENTS
ULTRAFILTRATION
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WORKING FLUIDS