The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 2000
Filed:
May. 04, 1999
Lawrence M Conaway, Niagra Falls, NY (US);
Continuum Environmental, Inc., Niagara Falls, NY (US);
Abstract
A system for treating industrial sludges to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a solid particulate substrate portion. A sludge feedstock is screened to remove large particles and is diluted to between about 5% and about 50% solids to form a slurry. The slurry is agitated and heated to 180.degree. F. or higher for a time sufficient to melt waxy hydrocarbon solids, reduce the viscosity of the slurry, reduce the density of hydrocarbons within the slurry, and break surface adhesion of hydrocarbon compounds to substrate particles. In a first separation step, the substrate particles are separated from a first liquid effluent containing most of the hydrocarbons from the original sludge, which may be further processed for recycle use. A first residual substrate cake is redispersed in hot water to form a second slurry and is treated with an amount of hydrogen peroxide for a time sufficient to lyse and/or liberate residual hydrocarbon compounds and to oxidize toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to non-toxic derivatives. The second slurry is passed through a second separation step, yielding a second liquid effluent which may be combined with the first liquid effluent for recovery processing of the hydrocarbons. The second residual substrate cake may be disposed of, as by landfilling, or further processed to recover valuable material in the substrate.