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A Chemical Process to Treat Spent Potliners and Produce Several Recyclable Commercially Valuable Products
EPA Contract Number: 68D40056Title: A Chemical Process to Treat Spent Potliners and Produce Several Recyclable Commercially Valuable Products
Investigators: Lucas, Paul J.
Small Business: Vortec Corporation
EPA Contact: Manager, SBIR Program
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1994 through March 1, 1995
Project Amount: $54,878
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1993)
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Hazardous and Solid Waste
Description:
In the manufacture of aluminum, a carbon-based liner acts as the cathode for the electrolysis process which reduces alumina to aluminum. This liner degrades during the production process, and the resultant waste, spent potliner(SPL), is defined as a listed (K088) hazardous waste. Approximately 110,000 metric tons/year of this hazardous waste must be disposed of in the U.S. Vortec proposes to develop a chemical process to remove the cyanides, fluorides and heavy metals from the SPL, leaving a material rich in carbon, alumina and silica. The proposed chemical process will also allow for the separate recovery of aluminum fluoride and heavy metals, as well as the destruction of the cyanides.During Phase I, Vortec will perform laboratory testing of the acidic extraction of cyanides, fluorides, and heavy metals from SPL and the destruction of cyanides by ozonation. The testing will focus on the parameters which control the extraction and oxidation processes. Phase II of the program will concentrate on the design, construction and testing os a laboratory-scale unit to verify the effectiveness of the proposed chemical process. The Phase II program will also develop a preliminary commercial system design, and its life cycle cost.
Supplemental Keywords:Leaching Extraction, Acidic Extraction, Ozonation, Spent Potliner, Cyanide, Ferrocyanide, Hazardous Waste, Recycling. , Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, Waste, RFA, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Chemistry and Materials Science, Hazardous, heavy metals, spent potliner (SPL), cyanide destruction by ozonation, cyanide, metal recovery, leaching extraction, acidic extraction