Gas: heating and illuminating – Processes – Fuel mixtures
Patent
1996-03-22
1998-10-27
Tran, Hien
Gas: heating and illuminating
Processes
Fuel mixtures
48209, 48DIG7, 252373, 585241, C10J 346
Patent
active
058273360
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an environmentally safe method for disposing of scrap plastic materials. More particularly, it pertains to a process for upgrading scrap plastic materials to produce a pumpable slurry of hydrocarbonaceous liquid solvent and partially liquefied scrap solid carbonaceous plastic-containing material and introducing said slurry into a partial oxidation gasifier for the production of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas.
Scrap plastics are solid organic polymers and are available in such forms as sheets, extruded shapes, moldings, reinforced plastics, laminates, and foamed plastics. About 60 billion pounds of plastics are sold in the United States each year. For example, automobiles are increasingly being manufactured containing more plastic parts. A large part of these plastic materials wind up as scrap plastics in landfills. Although plastics account for only a small portion of the waste dumped in landfills i.e. about 7 wt. % and about 20 percent by volume, burying them is getting increasingly difficult. The cost of landfilling this material in 1993 is between $12 to $100 per ton (excluding shipping costs); and this cost is rising. Landfills are not universally viewed as an acceptable, or even a tolerable option for the disposal of plastic materials. Due to the combined effects of the unpopularity of existing facilities and the need for land to allow normal growth of populations, new landfills have been all but banned in many parts of the world. Existing facilities are also facing finite limits as to how long they may continue to function. Also, toxic wastes from buried plastics seep into and pollute underground streams which are commonly the source of our fresh water. Further, on-site burning or incineration which are alternative disposal methods are in disfavor because they generate heavy air pollution from noxious gases and soot. With respect to recycling plastics, it has been economically feasible to recycle only about 1 wt. % of the scrap plastics. It is obvious from the aforesaid that the disposal of scrap plastics is one of the nation's most pressing environmental problems.
Advantageously by the subject environmentally acceptable process, a wide range of plastic feedstocks are partially liquefied for volume reduction and comparatively low cost disposal by partial oxidation. Useful synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas is produced. Further, the relatively medium heating value of the plastic material e.g. greater than about 3,000 Btu/lb is made available for heating internal process streams or producing by-product hot water or steam.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an environmentally acceptable process for the partial oxidation of a pumpable slurry of hydrocarbonaceous liquid solvent and partially liquefied solid carbonaceous plastic material containing inorganic filler or reinforcement material; wherein synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas is produced by said process comprising the steps of: reinforcement material; heating in a closed autoclave at a temperature in the range of about 400.degree. F. to 495.degree. F. and a pressure in the range of about 150 psig to 750 psig while said plastic material is in contact with a pumpable hydrocarbonaceous liquid solvent in the amount of about 1 to 5 parts by wt. of said hydrocarbonaceous liquid per part by weight of plastic material; wherein said heating is continued until a pumpable slurry mixture is produced which when cooled to room temperature and pressure comprises the following ingredients in weight percent:
______________________________________ a. solubilized plastic
20 to 30,
b. unsolubilized plastic
5 to 15,
c. hydrocarbonaceous liquid solvent
45 to 55,
d. separated inorganic material
1 to 15,
e. unseparated inorganic material
5 to 15;
______________________________________
of said slurry mixture in (2); and
presence of a temperature moderator the remainder of said slurry mixture
from (3) to produce raw synthesis gas, fuel gas, or reducing gas.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4108730 (1978-08-01), Chen et al.
patent: 4468376 (1984-08-01), Suggitt
patent: 4642401 (1987-02-01), Coenen et al.
patent: 5232487 (1993-08-01), Rabe et al.
patent: 5364996 (1994-11-01), Castagnoli et al.
DeCanio Stephen Jude
Gorsuch Christine Cornelia
Khan Motasimur Rashid
Gibson Henry H.
Rodman Charles
Rodman Philip
Texaco Inc.
Tran Hien
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