Patent Number: 047159928
Section: claims

1. A method of reducing the bulk volume of material which comprises a phenolic resin and which contains addition polymerizable groups, comprising: (A) contacting said material, including said phenolic resin, with sufficient butyrolactone to dissolve soluble organic material therein, including said phenolic resin and form a mixture;  (B) adding about 0.1 to 2% by weight, based on said mixture weight, of an addition polymerization catalyst, whereby said addition polymerizable groups are polymerized and said mixture is solidified.  (A) comminuting said filter element;  (B) contacting said comminuted filter element with an amount of butyrolactone sufficient to dissolve the soluble portions thereof, including said phenolic materials, and form a slurry;  (C) adding to said slurry about 10 to about 50% by weight, based on total slurry weight, of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer;  (D) adding to said slurry about 0.1 to about 2% by weight based on total slurry weight of an addition polymerization catalyst; and  (E) heating said slurry at a temperature between about 70.degree. C. and about the boiling point of said ethylenically unsaturated monomer to effect its polymerization and solidify said slurry. 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said material is comminuted prior to being contacted with said butyrolactone. 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said material is a filter cartridge contaminated with radioactive substances. 4. A method according to claim 1 including the additional step of adding to said mixture about 10 to about 50% by weight, based on total mixture weight, of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. 5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said ethylenically unsaturated monomer is styrene. 6. A method according to claim 1 including heating said mixture at a temperature between about 70.degree. C. and about the boiling point of said material to increase its rate of polymerization. 7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said addition polymerization catalyst is a peroxide. 8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said material is a filter element which comprises about 40 to about 50% by weight, based on total filter element weight, acrylic fiber, about 40 to about 50% by weight phenolic resin, and about 5 to about 12% by weight wood pulp. 9. A method of encapsulating radioactively contaminated filter element made with acrylic and phenolic materials comprising: 10. A method according to claim 7 wherein said ethylenically unsaturated monomer is styrene. 11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said addition polymerization catalyst is a peroxide. 12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said material contains insoluble material and said mixture is a slurry. 13. A method of dissolving a phenolic resinous material and forming a solution thereof comprising contacting said material with butyrolactone. 14. A method according to claim 13 including the additional last step of adding about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of an addition polymerization catalyst, whereby said solution is polymerized and solidified. 15. A method according to claim 13 wherein insoluble material is included in said phenolic resinous material. 16. A method according to claim 9 wherein said filter element comprises about 40 to about 50% by weight, based on total filter element weight, acrylic fiber, about 40 to about 50% by weight phenolic resin, and about 5 to about 12% by weight wood pulp.