Title: Non-polluting disposal of antifouling paint residues encountered in shipyard abrasive blasting operations

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. A safe, non-polluting method of handling and neutralizing the toxic nature of organo-metallic antifouling paint residue removed from ships comprising the steps of:

removing the organo-metallic antifouling paint from a ship's hull as by abrasive blasting or other mechanical means;

collecting the residue of said organo-metallic antifouling paint and spent abrasive blasting material;

placing said residue of organo-metallic paint and abrasive material in a vapor-tight muffle furnace;

heating said residue in said furnace in the presence of air for a period of time above its ignition temperature and the ignition temperature of its vapors;

whereby said organo-metallic material is destroyed to yield carbon dioxide, water vapor and a non-toxic, non-organic metal oxide; and

unloading the detoxified material for recycling or safe disposal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating is further defined as:

heating said residue to a temperature of at least 640.degree.C for at least 45 min.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

adding air to the interior of said furnace to replace consumed oxygen, and to fluidize particulates and thus ensure complete combustion of said organo-metallic and its vapors.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

venting the vapors driven off during the combustion of the organo-metallic residue to an after-burner; and

afterburning said vapors to non-toxic inert compounds.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said organo-metallic residue is:

an organo-tin compound.

The method of claim 4 wherein said organo-metallic residue is:

an organo-lead compound.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said organo-metallic residue is:

triphenyl lead acetate.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of collecting said residue is provided by a mobile on-site process comprising the initial step of:

vacuuming up the residue from the drydock floor to street level directly into said furnace.

Other info:

Inventors: Ticker, Arthur (Bowie, MD, US)

Application Number: 637421
Filing Date: 1975-12-03
Publication_date: 1976-09-21
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 110/346 134/19
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2474645	Jun, 1949	Baxter	75/85.
2815267	Dec, 1957	Platteeuw et al.	75/85.
3686034	Aug, 1972	Rothschild	134/19.
3802916	Apr, 1974	Jackson	134/19.
3821026	Jun, 1974	Swartz	134/2.
3847664	Nov, 1974	Gravel	134/2.
3899322	Aug, 1975	Yosim et al.	134/2.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Sprague, Kenneth W.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Sciascia; R. S., Hodges; Q. E., McGiehan; D.