INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY #109

1.   Headline:  Internal recycling at metal finishing process
     on a military installation

2.   Background:  See below.

3.   Cleaner Production Principle:  Internal recycling.

4.   Description of Cleaner Production Application:

     Case Study Summary:  Elementary distillation using a
     single column recycling still. A single column recycling
     still is used to recover xylene that is contaminated with
     prafine and human tissues.  The still recycles
     approximately 1,500 gallons of xylene per year.  The still
     bottoms are considered a hazardous waste and must be
     disposed accordingly.  Bottoms production, however, is
     only at a rate of 10 lbs. per year.

     Material/Energy Balance and Substitution

     FEEDSTOCKS:  Contaminated xylene

     WASTES: Still bottoms (10 pounds/year) are hazardous.

5.   Economics

          COST(1987 dollars):

     CAPITAL COST: $3,000

     MONTHS TO RECOVER:  18

6.   Advantages:  Cleaner Production Benefits

     WASTE PRODUCTION:  Still recycles approximately 1,500
     gallons of xylene per year.

     IMPACT: Xylene disposal was eliminated at the William
     Beaumont Army Medical Center.

7.   Constraints:  No information provided.

8.   Contact and Citation:

     Attachment A-1:  Fort Bliss' Hazardous Waste Minimization
     Plan, pp. 4, 7, Department of Defense Report on the Status
     of DoD Hazardous Waste Minimization, March 31, 1988.

     Name and Location of Company:

     United States Army Environmental Management Office
     Directorate of Engineering and Housing
     Fort Bliss, Texas
     United States

9.   Keywords:  United States, USA, metal, metal finishing,
     recycling, xylene, military base, military, medical
     center.

10.  Reviewer's Comments: This case study was originally
     abstracted for the United States Environmental Protection
     Agency's Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse.
     It underwent a UNEP IE funded technical review in 1994 for
     quality and completeness.  It was edited for the ICPIC
     diskette in July 1995.

( Docno: UNEP02.52 DOCUMENT NOT AVAILABLE (176) )