Patent ID: 6383394
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: B01D,B01J,B04B,B08B

Abstract:
A method for rendering waste sorbent material recyclable, the method comprising collecting polymer-based sorbent materials containing one or more solvents, treating the sorbent materials in a centrifugal treatment system for removing the solvents from the polymer-based waste material, the treatment system including a fume collection system and a centrifuge disposed in the fume collection system, the centrifuge having a housing, a housing cover and a rotatable basket received within an interior portion of the centrifuge defined by the housing and cover, the rotatable basket being configured for receiving a plurality polymer-based sorbent materials containing one or more solvents, charging the sorbent articles into the centrifuge and operating the centrifuge to rotate the basket to apply centrifugal forces to the sorbent articles for extractive removal of solvents therefrom such that the fluids travel from the basket into an annular area between the basket and the housing, providing a collection tank in flow communication with the annular area and the fume collection system, collecting solvents removed from the sorbent materials in the collection tank, and removing the thus treated sorbent materials from the centrifuge for transportation to a remote site for recycling, whereby the sorbent materials have a residual solvent content that renders the materials non-hazardous for transportation to a remote recycling site.