Abstract:
The invention concerns devices, processes, and treatment products for bursting into elements, in particular electric transformers having contained PCB or other chlorinated or halogenated derivatives or oils contaminated by PCB, and for decontaminating the elements and the oils. The invention is applicable in particular to condensers, wood, junction boxes and in general to all liquids or products contaminated by PCB or other chlorinated or halogenated derivatives.
Abstract:
Method for replacing a coolant containing PCB in electrical induction apparatus having a tank containing the PCB-containing coolant and an electrical winding and porous solid cellulosic electrical insulation immersed in the PCB-containing coolant with a substantially PCB-free permanent coolant to convert said electrical apparatus into one in which the rate of elution of PCB into the PCB-free coolant is below the maximum allowable rate of elution into the coolant of an electrical apparatus rated as non-PCB, the porous electrical insulation being impregnated with said PCB-containing coolant. The method comprises the steps of: (a) draining the PCB-containing coolant from said tank to remove a major portion of the PCB-containing coolant contained by it; (b) filling the tank with an interim dielectric cooling liquid that is (1) miscible with PCB, (ii) sufficiently low in viscosity to circulate within said tank and penetrate the interstices of the porous solid electrical insulation, and (iii) capable of being readily separated from said PCB; (c) electrically operating the electrical induction apparatus for a period sufficient to elute PCB contained in the PCB-containing coolant impregnated in the porous insulation therefrom into the interim dielectric cooling liquid; (d) thereafter draining the interim dielectric cooling liquid containing the eluted PCB from the tank; (e) repeating the cylce of steps (b), (c) and (d), when the rate of elution of PCB into the interim dielectric cooling liquid exceeds 0,55 ppm of PCB per day based on the weight of the permanent dielectric coolant, a sufficient number of times until the rate of elution of PCB into the interim dielectric cooling liquid does not exceed the rate of 50 ppm PCB based on the weight of the permanent coolant after 90 days of electrical operation; and (f) filling the tank with a substantially PCB-free permanent coolant selected from the group consisting of high boiling, high viscosity, silicone oils, synthetic ester fluids, poly-alpha-olefin oils and hydrocarbon oils.
Abstract:
Sample processing methods that utilize a graphitized carbon matrix are useful for determining the relative amounts polyhalogenated biphenyls (PHBs), polyhalogenated dibenzofurans (PHDFs), and polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PHDDs) in a mixture of polyhalogenated diaromatic hydrocarbons (PHDHs). The methods are particularly useful when used in conjunction with cell-based assays for determining the toxicity of PHDH compounds.
Abstract:
A continuous, recycling, solvent extraction process for the separation and extraction of halocarbon contaminants, particularly organochlorines such as polychlorinated biphenyls from hydrophobic materials, especially hydrophobic liquids and solids such as oils and fats, comprising contacting an oleophobic perfluorocarbon (PFC) fluid, in which the halocarbon contaminant is at least partially soluble, with the contaminated hydrophobic liquid or solid by means of a recycling liquid-liquid or solid-liquid continuous extraction apparatus (10) wherein the dense PFC fluid is contacted with the contaminated hydrophobic material, the contaminants are at least partially extracted into the PFC fluid, the PFC fluid is removed from the hydrophobic material into a separate zone containing a PFC-insoluble matrix to which the contaminants preferentially adhere, the contaminant-depleted PFC fluid is removed from the matrix and reintroduced into contact with the hydrophobic material (5), thus completing the cycle which can be continuously repeated for as long as is necessary to effect removal of the contaminant to a required extent.
Abstract:
A process and device are disclosed for cleaning in particular PCB-contaminated electric appliances (10) such as transformers filled with a fluid. The device has a fluid circuit (14), a distillator (34) for cleaning the fluid, a mixer (22), in which a headstream coming from the distillator is mixed with the fluid circulating in the circuit and flowing back to the electric device, and a feed pump (26). In order to achieve a reliable decontamination or reclassification with a device having a compact design, the fluid to be cleaned is supplied to the distillator (34) at or almost at the bottom of an evaporator (68), flows in the evaporator through an outer annular space and an inner space separated therefrom, and is heated and at least partially evaporated in the annular space.
Abstract:
A process for the removal and detoxification of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) present in dielectric or other fluids, such as transformer oil, employing polyethylene glycol as the primary extractant, cyclohexane as a secondary extractant and a reagent derived from the reaction of sodium or sodium hydroxide, polyethylene glycol and oxygen for the decomposition and detoxification of the PCBs.
Abstract:
A method for recovering base oil from waste lubricating oil by separating base oil range constituents from a waste lubricating oil mixture, thereafter separating higher quality base oil constituents and lower quality base oil constituents from the base oil recovered from the waste lubricating oil mixture and thereafter treating the lower quality base oil constituents to produce marketable base oil. The total base oil produced from a waste lubricating oil mixture by this process is greater than the quantity producible by previous processes using only base oil separation from the waste lubricating oil mixture or processes which use only treatment of the base oil recovered from the waste lubricating oil mixture to produce the product base oil.
Abstract:
Sample processing methods that utilize a graphitized carbon matrix are useful for determining the relative amounts polyhalogenated biphenyls (PHBs), polyhalogenated dibenzofurans (PHDFs), and polyhalogenated dibenzo- p -dioxins (PHDDs) in a mixture of polyhalogenated diaromatic hydrocarbons (PHDHs). The methods are particularly useful when used in conjunction with cell-based assays for determining the toxicity of PHDH compounds.
Abstract:
Non-ionic pollutants are removed from the soil by contacting the soil with a mixture of a particulate material having an anionic surfactant absorbed to a magnetic oxide. The surfactant complexes through the anionic charge to the magnetic particle and the non-ionic pollutants partitions into the sorbed surfactant. The particulate material including the surfactant and pollutant are magnetically removed from the soil. A typical embodiment utilizes ferric ferrous oxide and alkyl lauryl polyoxycarboxylate to remove polychlorinated biphenyls from soil.
Abstract:
A method and compositions for removal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from a surface by treatment of the surface with an extraction solvent, an encapsulating solution and an aqueous wash are disclosed. The extraction solvent includes a mixture of kerosene and a surfactant. The encapsulating solution includes a mixture of a metal hydroxide, a solvent dispersion agent, a coupling agent and water.