Vitrification of organics-containing wastes

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:871126

Bickford, Dennis F ^[1]

---

1. Aiken, SC

A process for stabilizing organics-containing waste materials and recovering metals therefrom, and a waste glass product made according to the process. 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.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5662579
• OSTI ID: 871126
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

vitrification
organics-containing
wastes
process
stabilizing
waste
materials
recovering
metals
therefrom
glass
product
according
organic
exchange
resins
electronic
components
accomplished
mixing
transition
metal
oxide
formers
compensate
shortage
silicates
increases
rate
oxidation
improve
composition
glass-forming
mixture
temperatures
catalyzes
portion
organics
dissolves
resulting
oxygen
oxidize
conduct
melt
remaining
addition
buffers
redox
potential
cu
separate
metallic
recovered
remainder
allowed
cool
subsequently
disposed
leaching
resistance
ordinary
landfill
alternatively
filler
concrete
asphalt
brick
tile
recovering metals
glass former
organic materials
exchange resin
waste material
metal oxide
transition metal
waste materials
exchange resins
organic material
glass melt
electronic components
glass formers
waste glass
oxide buffer
containing wastes
glass product
containing waste
organics-containing waste
covering metal
/588/