INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY # 113

1.   Headline:  Internal recycling in the production of
     aluminum foil

2.   Background:  See below.

3.   Cleaner production Principle:  internal recycling, process
     modification

4.   Description of Cleaner Production Application:  The
     facility is involved with priming and lacquering aluminum
     foil.  In the low pollution technique the solvent vapors
     emitted during the hot air drying of the lacquer are
     recovered with activated carbon.  The activated carbon, in
     a second operation, is steam cleaned.  The solvent vapor
     and water vapor mix is sent into a distilling column after
     condensation.  After condensation, the solvents obtained
     are recycled to the workroom where the lacquer is
     prepared.  In the standard process, the solvent vapors
     from the drying of the lacquer are discharged directly
     into the atmosphere without treatment.

     This is the first industrial application of the recovery
     of ketonic solvent vapors, generally considered as a
     difficult procedure.  As the technical results were
     positive as far as the reduction of pollution is concerned
     and the economic results should be satisfactory given the
     expected increase in the prices of petroleum based
     solvents, the use of this process should be extended to
     activities employing the same types of products.

     Material/Energy Balance and Substitution

                         FEEDSTOCKS:       Solvent vapors

                         WASTES:          The waste produced
                         is made up of ketonic and ethylic
                         solvent vapors.
5.   Economics

                              COST:                (1978
                              Francs)

                              CAPITAL COST:         F 3.85
                              million

6.   Cleaner Production Benefits

                              FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION:    Virgin
                              solvent requirements reduced by a
                              factor of three

                         WASTE PRODUCTION:  With the low
                         pollution technique, 30 kg of solvent
                         vapors are released into the
                         atmosphere per ton of solvent used.
                         With the standard technique, the
                         quantity of the waste released is 700
                         kg.

                         IMPACT:          The amount of new
                         solvents required is reduced by three
                         due to recycling. Energy needs are
                         increased by 13.5 GJ per ton of
                         solvent used in order to produce the
                         vapor necessary for cleaning the
                         activated carbon and the distillation
                         of the recovered solution.

 7. Constraints: No information provided.

 8.                           Contact and Citation:

     Compendium on Low and Non-waste Technology, United Nations
     Economic and Social Counsel,  "Recovery and Recycling of
     Solvents from Vapors Originating from Priming and Painting
     of Aluminum Foils", Monograph ENV/WP.2/5/Add.32

     Name and Location of Company:

     Ministere de l'Environnement et du Cadre de Vie
     Direction de la Prevention des Pollutions
     14, Boulevard du General Leclerc
     92521 Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex, France

9.   Keywords:  France, metal, aluminum, aluminum foil,
     recycling, process modification, priming, lacquering,
     solvent, hot air drying, activated carbon, distilling
     column, ketonic solvent.

10.  Reviewers Comments:  This case study was originally
     abstracted for the US EPA 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: 400-032-A-221 )