Autoclaving for PCB’s

Status & POPs application Well proven and available for many years.

In general for PCBs (only the oil and transformer components such as ceramics, cardboard and wood are incinerated).

After decontamination, the various metals such as copper, steel and aluminium are sent to the metals recycling industry.

POPs application:PCB’s only - not for other POPs

Technology descriptionHistory:

3-6 times rinsing of units were not able to bring PCB’s down to 50mg/kg. No adequate decontamination of transformer internal components: 0.5% to 4% (conc) PCBs remained at core and windings after 18 hours of soaking and rinsing Autoclaving solution

Principle:Solvent decontamination process that extracts PCBs from contaminated material.

Process: Extraction solvent disrobes and solubilises PCBs from casing wall surfaces and internal cores, coils and windings. The efficiency of decontamination is a function of induced cycles of phase changes of the extraction solvent within the material containing the PCBs.

PCB Transformers and capacitors decontamination

PCB liquids

Vacuum pumping (PCB)

Disassembling of tank and core

Preparation of « large basket »

Decontamination in autoclaves

Complete Dismantling

Finishing treatment in the copper kiln

Transformers and capacitors reception in

the plant

Recycling materials

Perchloroethylen distillation

recycling

Thermic treatment

(static furnace)

Chloride recycling by

HCL production

Technology description

PART I: Adaptation Technology – Country

A. Performance

1. Minimum pre-treatment: Draining of contaminated oil from the materials. Dismantling for transformers. Sawing for capacitors. Core, casing, ceramics and piping materials

separation.

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country

A. Performance (cont’d)

2. Destruction Efficiency (DE):• DE values of greater than 99,999% have

been reported for all chlorinated compounds.

• Input values: >10 000 mg/kg PCBs askarel transformers<10 000 mg/kg PCB’s mineral oil transformers

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country

A. Performance (cont’d)3. Toxic by-products:

Vacuum pump air exhaust is treated by active carbon filters. No toxic by-products

4. Uncontrolled releases: ---5. Capacity to treat all POPs:

No, only PCB’s6. Throughput: quantity [tons/day, l/day]

Reach 50 t / day on cores 12000 t/y (example) (incl PCB and metal) POPs throughput : [POPs waste/total waste in %]

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country

A. Performance (cont’d)

7. Wastes/residuals: Secondary waste stream volumes: ---

Off gas treatment:The off gas is treated via an activated carbon filter. Flow of gas 125 nm3 / h - conforms with the EU norms of emission

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology

A. Resource needs: Example 9 X France Power requirements: 1000 kVA Water requirements: Closed – loop circuit. Volume flow is about 100

m3 / h (directly rejected after use). No real water consumption, but if no well available, cold water unit needed.

Reagents volumes: PCE as solvent. Amount needed ca 40 m3 Recycled and reused. Overall consumption PCE: 200 t/y

Weather tight buildings: Hazardous waste personnel requirement: Sampling requirements/facilities: Peer sampling: Laboratory requirements: Communication systems: Number of (un/skilled) personnel required: 16 2 shifts of 8

persons Complex plant requires expertise to run

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology

B: Costs (for case related in % of total):

Argentina case taken: Total costs ca 1 Mio US $. Treatment cost between 3 and 5 USD/kg

Installation + commissioning: 5 % Site preparation: 2 % Energy & Telecom installation: 330 kVA Monitoring: 1% Compliance: Reporting: 1% Run without waste: Run with waste: 0,3 to 0,5 USD/kg  Decommissioning: 2 % Landfilling: only for ceramics depending of local costs Transport residues:

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology

C. Impact & D. Risks: Discharges to air:

125 Nm3 / h of gas, treated according to the EU norms. Discharges to water:

none Discharges to land: Ceramics: 400 t / y of non-contaminated

neutral material are landfilled Risks reagents applied: PCEwear tracing equipmt

exposition Risks of technology: limited Fire, but extensive fire fighting

and prevention equipment installed, strict temp.controls Operational risks:

Mechanical risks due to manipulation of heavy metallic parts

PART II: Adaption Country Technology

E. Constructability & F. Output Ease of installation & construction of plant:

complex Ease of shipping/transit: Ease of operation:

Complex plant requiring expertise to run in origin country Ease of processing:

complex Generated waste (% of input waste): Deposited waste at landfill (% of input waste): Waste quality properties (pH, TCLP):

Autoclave Mexico

Taiwan autoclaving

Argentina Autoclaving

Introduction of

internal cores

in autoclave

Introduction materials in autoclave

Taiwan Dismantling area

Dismantling operation draining at metallic platform

Dismantled materials

Distillation column for Perchloroethylen recycling

(France)

Mobile autoclave Canada

For developing countries interesting: only oil sent overseas for destruction. PCBs + contaminated equipment decontamination equipment to be preferred over complete incineration.

Need large amounts of waste to justify location in origin country (> 2000 tons) if yes: a mobile autoclave can be considered

Cost effective: minimum amounts send overseas.

Proper infrastructure such as power supply + recycling industry must be in place!!

Income recycling materials: Copper, steel and aluminium are recycled in origin country

Complex plant requires expertise to run

Low emissions

Recycling of solvents Large amounts of solvents (PCE) used

Strength’s Weaknesses