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Title: Vitrification of organics-containing wastes

Abstract

A process for stabilizing organics-containing waste materials and recovery metals therefrom, and a waste glass product made according to the process are described. 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 form 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 productmore » 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.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
463576
Patent Number(s):
8408157
Application Number:
ON: DE97003865; PAN: 8-408,157; TRN: AHC29709%%13
Assignee:
US Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B05 - SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL B05B - SPRAYING APPARATUS
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B05 - SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL B05C - APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-89SR18035
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
05 NUCLEAR FUELS; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; VITRIFICATION; MATERIALS RECOVERY; ORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS; ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS; OXIDES; CATALYTIC EFFECTS; METALS; WASTE FORMS; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES; HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Citation Formats

Bickford, D F. Vitrification of organics-containing wastes. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Bickford, D F. Vitrification of organics-containing wastes. United States.
Bickford, D F. Sun . "Vitrification of organics-containing wastes". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/463576.
@article{osti_463576,
title = {Vitrification of organics-containing wastes},
author = {Bickford, D F},
abstractNote = {A process for stabilizing organics-containing waste materials and recovery metals therefrom, and a waste glass product made according to the process are described. 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 form 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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}