Organic Solvent Recovery And Reclamation

Describes a project undertaken to recycle the large amounts of waste organic solvents produced at a medical laboratory. The recycling system selected was the Labmaster Distillation System. The first phase of the project involved the reclamation of xylene, methanol, and 95% ethanol waste, and the second phase involved reclamation of absolute ethanol waste and the use of a molecular sieve to remove any remaining water, present as azeotropes, from the reclaimed ethanol so that it could be reused as absolute ethanol. Information is included on the purchase and installation of the distillation system, modifications to the solvent recovery operations, problems encountered, amounts of wastes diverted, and cost savings achieved.

The pressure is on to cut plant emissions while still maintaining a cost-effective operation. Choosing the best solvent, being aware of potential problems, and the recovery of solvents has never been so important. Traditionally, solvents had been chosen on the basis of whether they can do the job effectively and economically. However, with regulations on exposure to solvent vapors becoming more stringent, selecting the solvent that meets regulatory, efficiency, and economical criteria as early as possible in the process has become paramount. Solvent Recovery Handbook, Second Edition sets out the physical properties of the fifty most commonly used solvents. The book supplies information on their behavior during and after use, health and fire hazards, the photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), and recovery processes including practical aspects of the design and operation of batch stills. It delivers state-of-the art coverage of every available recovery and disposal technology - including removing solvents from gas, water, and residues, separating used solvents, and drying solvents. What's more, you'll find fact-filled sections on the latest equipment, safe effective operating procedures, choosing solvents with recovery in mind, and much more. Updated and expanded, Ian Smallwood's Solvent Recovery Handbook, Second Edition hands you all the practical tools you need to efficiently and cost-effectively process harmful organic solvents after re-capture.