Patent EA-000220-B1 (EA)
Title: Method and apparatus for treatment of organic waste material
Inventor: HALLETT DOUGLAS J
IPC: A62D3/00
Filed: 1996-03-06
Abstract: 1. A method for separating a relatively volatile component of an agglomerate having a solid component, the method comprising milling the agglomerate in a container at least partially immersed in a bath of molten material to release the relatively volatile component as vapour therefrom. 2. The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of capturing the vapour to preclude release thereof into the environment. 3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the molten material is heated for transfer of energy from the bath to the interior of the container to promote the release of the relatively volatile component and the molten material is tin. 4. The method of Claim 2 or 3wherein t the milling step includes rotating the drum about a central axis wherein the drum rotates between about 5 and about 30 revolutions per minute, preferably about 15 revolutions per minute, wherein the capturing step includes entraining organic vapour released from the waste material in a gaseous stream, comprising the reducing gas selected from hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, butane, natural gas or a combination thereof with an initial concentration of hydrogen of at least about 50 per cent and/or comprising nitrogen, steam, helium or a combination thereof. 5. The method of Claim 1 including maintaining the temperature in the container between about 300 degree C and about 600 degree C, wherein the released vapour in a gaseous stream is chemically reduced in the treatment zone and further condensed to a liquid in said zone. 6. A thermal desorption unit, comprising a desorption vessel for agglomerate material having a relatively volatile component to be thermally desorbed therefrom; and a molten material bath, wherein the vessel being at least partially immersed in the molten material bath for heat transfer from the bath to the interior of the vessel for desorption of the relatively volatile component from the agglomerate material. 7. A thermal desorption unit of Claim 6 comprising means for milling the agglomerate within the vessel to enhance the thermal desorption of the relatively volatile component. 8. A thermal desorption unit of Claim 6 or 7, comprising a heater for the bath, to act as a heat source for said heat transfer, means for capturing desorbed gaseous material released from the agglomerate material, comprising a storage vessel connected to the desorption vessel by a valve, for transfer of gaseous material from the desorption vessel to the storage vessel, an inlet into the vessel for controlled entry thereinto of entrainment gases and an outlet from the vessel for controlled exit of gaseous matter, wherein said desorption vessel is a cylindrical container having a central axis oriented generally horizontally for rotation thereabout, and the means to break down the agglomerate, comprising comprising spheres and/or metal balls arranged in the container for mixing the agglomerate to break it down to obtain relatively small particles, wherein the ratio of the length vessel to its diameter is between about 3:1 to about 10:1, preferably 5:1 and desorption vessel has an entry port for the agglomerate material at a first end of the container and an exit port for relatively non-volatile non-desorbed materials at a second end of the container 9. A thermal desorption unit of Claim 6 or 7, comprising means for capturing desorbed gaseous material released from the agglomerate material, further comprising the entry port to introduce entrainment gases at the second axial end of the container, and the exit port for gaseous material from the first axial end of the container, a means for heating entrainment gases before entry into the vessel, a means for the agglomerate entry into the vessel via the entry port, and a feeder with two compartments, each of them connected to the means of entry, wherein each said compartment is sealed from the surrounding atmosphere and from the other compartment for continuously supply of the agglomerate from the first compartment into the desorption vessel.