Combination biological and microwave treatments of used rubber products

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874522

Fliermans, Carl B ^[1]; Wicks, George G ^[2]

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1. Augusta, GA
2. Aiken, SC

A process and resulting product is provided in which a vulcanized solid particulate, such as vulcanized crumb rubber, has select chemical bonds altered by biotreatment with thermophillic microorganisms selected from natural isolates from hot sulfur springs. Following the biotreatment, microwave radiation is used to further treat the surface and to treat the bulk interior of the crumb rubber. The resulting combined treatments render the treated crumb rubber more suitable for use in new rubber formulations. As a result, larger loading levels and sizes of the treated crumb rubber can be used in new rubber mixtures and good properties obtained from the new recycled products.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-96SR18500
• Assignee: Westinghouse Savannah River Company, LLC (Aiken, SC)
• Patent Number(s): US 6407144
• OSTI ID: 874522
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

combination
biological
microwave
treatments
rubber
products
process
resulting
product
provided
vulcanized
solid
particulate
crumb
select
chemical
bonds
altered
biotreatment
thermophillic
microorganisms
selected
natural
isolates
hot
sulfur
springs
following
radiation
treat
surface
bulk
interior
combined
render
treated
formulations
result
larger
loading
levels
sizes
mixtures
properties
obtained
recycled
resulting product
chemical bond
/521/204/435/522/