Patent ID: 7040891

Claim:
A system for reducing fuel consumption and pollutant emissions from asphalt cement production, said system comprising; (a) a kiln in which said asphalt cement is produced, said kiln having an inlet burner area, said kiln discharging an untreated gaseous waste stream, said untreated gaseous waste stream comprising at least one chemical species having an initial concentration; (b) an exhaust conduit in fluid communication with said kiln, said exhaust conduit adapted to transport said untreated gaseous waste stream from said kiln; (c) at least one sorbent supply, each said sorbent supply in fluid communication with said exhaust conduit so as to be capable of introducing at least one sorbent into said untreated gaseous waste stream, wherein a said sorbent is capable of reacting with at least a portion of said untreated gaseous waste stream so as to produce an at least partially treated waste stream and at least one used sorbent, wherein said at least partially treated waste stream has at least one concentration of at least one said chemical species lower than said untreated gaseous waste stream; (d) a baghouse in fluid communication with said kiln exhaust conduit so as to receive said untreated gaseous waste stream from said kiln, precipitate at least a portion of said at least one used sorbent, and discharge an at least partially treated waste stream; and (e) a baghouse exhaust conduit in fluid communication with said baghouse so as to receive said at least partially treated gaseous waste stream from said baghouse, wherein at least a portion of said at least partially treated gaseous waste stream traversing said baghouse exhaust conduit is directed to said inlet burner area of said kiln so as to reduce said fuel consumption.