WO1997019871A1 - Method and containers for handling, processing and recycling waste - Google Patents

Abstract

A method wherein waste is crushed, compacted and placed in type I containers (non-toxic waste), type II containers (toxic waste) or type III containers (highly toxic waste). Container I has a variable size and consists of walls including a tubular frame (1) mounted and fixed by means of cross members (2) and provided with upper (3) and lower (4) exposed threaded portions. A recess (15) is provided under the upper cross members to enable gases to flow through connecting sleeves (13) embedded in open or closed flat-head fastening sleeves (12). The tubular frame extends through a thick honeycomb structure (5) defining said walls. The bottom wall (6) also has a honeycomb structure and consists of a portion inside the walls and a portion located outside said walls for supporting same. The assembly of the walls and the bottom wall is filled and coated in a single step with a material such as PVC or synthetic or polyurethane resin. At the same time, the outer layer of the bottom wall (extra thickness) is moulded to provide square projections and recesses (7) enabling the containers to be assembled or mounted on a base (8). The cover (9 + 14) is similarly worked. Only the outer portion is reverse moulded. The outer rows (17) of both the bottom wall and the cover have a half-width. The corners (11) and intermediate recesses (10) of the cover have a half-thickness and are perforated so that the flat-head fastening sleeves can be inserted therein. During transport and all the handling required prior to assembly, said sleeves house eye bolts (16) used during the assembly process. The three types of container may be mounted on a base having a varying width and length depending on each particular application.

Description

 Process and containers for management, treatment and recycling of waste

The invention relates to the management, treatment and recycling of waste by its conservation in special, closed, antipollution, pluggable containers used in the fields of construction and civil engineering called "G.T.R.D. process". This invention is symbolized by the colors Green, Red, Yellow, attributed to bags, barrels, tanks and containers according to their specific content, as well as to collection and transport vehicles. The use of containers, after temporary storage if necessary and according to their color, and therefore their content, in specific applications for each type, is an integral part of the GTRD Process. These applications are claimed in the same way as the invention itself , because they form a homogeneous and inseparable whole. They will be incorporated into the detail of the claims for each type of treatment and container. The aim of the "GTRD Process", in its entirety, is to reduce the pollution created by waste to almost zero, to remedy certain natural problems (floods for example), to achieve, at lower cost, construction and civil engineering works which are characterized by remarkable solidity and reliability. We know the drawbacks of current waste treatment. They are manifested by pollution of soil and groundwater, by air pollution (combustion of waste), by enormous costs, constantly increasing, for poor results in terms of environmental protection, by techniques from "ready for the most urgent", by no future solution with lasting effectiveness, by cleanliness campaigns with very limited effects. If the various costs of the points set out above are added up, the total budget for waste treatment is astronomical and the environmental, employment and waste recycling benefits are minimal.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks. The "G.T.R.D. Process" included applications, as characterized in the claims, effectively and lastingly solves all problems of management, treatment and recycling of household, industrial (toxic or not), chemical, sludge, oil, construction waste. Made of existing materials, of easy shape and construction, of practical and varied assemblies and interconnections, it can be applicable within a fairly short time, anywhere. By design, the reuse of waste, in the form of containers, in many construction and civil engineering applications, is done at low cost while being of safety, solidity and longevity never achieved so far Advances in materials technology may further improve its effects. In addition, by this invention, the "G.T.R.D. Process" , waste becomes a source of income by the mere fact of its recycling, instead of the sums committed for its elimination, or its management. With the "G.T.R.D. Process" nothing goes up in smoke, nothing pollutes, everything is usefully transformed. The recovery of gases produced by the decomposition of waste, for example. and conveyed in the various containers via the tubular cages, is made at the upper level of the assemblies by means of collecting pipes. It offers a new source of energy. Other substantial savings are made by eliminating certain sorts currently required, such as plastics, PVC, aluminum, batteries (portable devices, torches, etc.). Only recyclable materials, such as paper, glass, iron, zinc, lead, copper, remain in the recovery chain already in place.

Another very important advantage is that of the unsaturation of the “GTRD Process” thanks to its numerous applications. They will be detailed for each type of treatment. The dimensions of the containers are variable, which makes it possible to settle the question of the total weight of each of them according to the type of waste, the transport of the different phases of assembly. on site and have a very wide range of possible assemblies and interconnections. The materials used, as described for each type of container, are only given as an indication in order to follow the progress in materials technology.

Waste collection is done using the services already existing for each of them. Only the exterior color of vehicles is identical to the specific color of the waste they are supposed to collect, hence the need for three types of bags, drums or tanks, namely:

- green (replaces gray) for all non-toxic, solid, liquid or powdery everyday consumption waste from households (except batteries = red) industries, dredging sludge, etc. - red for moderately toxic solid, liquid or powdery waste, such as batteries, cosmetics, expired drugs, chemicals. If the use of barrels proves to be necessary or essential (factories), these will also be red.

- yellow for very toxic, solid, liquid or powdery waste, initially which may be contained in a bag (waste of pills, tablets and medical ampoules for example). Then, and for all other risky cases, the use of barrels or tanks, yellow in color, is compulsory.

After collecting the waste and filling it in the respective containers, these are transported either to their place of recycling (application) or to a storage area previously designated according to the type of waste: green, red or yellow. Throughout the process, the management, treatment, and recycling (applications), as well as the designated storage areas for each type of waste will be distinguished by the colors mentioned above. Each zone will be designated by the same color as that of the waste it must receive and treat, c. to d. green for green, red for red, yellow for yellow. These areas will be defined by the responsible political, legal and technical authorities. In certain very specific applications, such as sea dikes for example, the combination of containers of different colors, according to a precise diagram (see chapter "assemblies") which guarantees maximum safety, can be conceived in a so-called green area.

The "G.T.R.D. Process" represents, in its entirety, a new waste treatment industry with, as a corollary, the creation of jobs in the steel, construction and civil engineering, transport, etc. sectors, as well as the complete and effective disappearance of pollution generated by these types of waste.

The invention is set out below, using diagrams and figures representing the construction details by type of container as well as the intended and inseparable applications of the

"G.T.R.D. process". Figure (1) shows, in perspective and in section, the type I container, in Green color. JJ also serves as a basic container for types π in red and III in color

Yellow, π is intended for most common waste. It is detailed according to the claims.

Figure (2) shows the JJ type container, defined by the color Red, and intended for toxic waste. E is detailed according to the claims. Figure (3) shows the JJI type container, defined by the color Yellow, and intended for very toxic waste. It is detailed according to the claims.

Figure (4) shows a longitudinal assembly, in two rows offset on the base.

Figure (5) shows a transverse assembly side by side on the base.

Figure (6) shows an assembly by simple cross overlay on base ("brick wall").

Figure (7) shows an assembly by offset cross overlay, on base ("mixed").

The figure (8) represents a combined assembly (example) offset in several rows with two bases and a finishing layer.

These assemblies can be combined together according to strict safety standards, when it is necessary to work in several overlays and over a very large width (foundations sea dikes, highways, railway lines, etc.)

In accordance with the present invention, the various closed, antipollution, pluggable, green, red or yellow containers are provided for fitting in various ways (see assemblies) on a base fig. 1-8 or between two bases (one of which is turned over) and used, among other things, in the fields of construction and civil engineering. The whole determines a process for the management, treatment and recycling of non-toxic, moderately toxic and very toxic waste, called the GTRD process, according to safety standards symbolized by the colors green, red and yellow. The type I container - fig. 1, green in color, is intended for the treatment of non-toxic waste, called green treatment II also serves, apart from its color, as a basic container for the other types of treatment. It consists of a tubular cage 1 passing through walls in an aluminum honeycomb structure 5, filled and covered with PVC or polyurethane, or synthetic resin, or in any other existing or future manner. The bottom 6 and the cover 9 are molded, of reverse material, in square studs and hollows 7 allowing a hermetic and resistant assembly. Us are crossed at their corners 11 and midpoints 10 by high 3 and low 4 threaded rods of the tubular cage. . The first receive the fixing sleeves 12, which seal the cover. The second receive the bottom fixing sleeves which temporarily maintain a lifting system (not shown), together with transport eyelets 16, referred to in the upper fixing sleeves. The lifting system is removed and the fixing sleeves 3 and 4 tightened before assembly. In a second step, and according to future applications, we will insert interconnection sleeves 13, which will allow the passage of gases, from container to container, to be recovered in evacuation collectors (not shown) and directed to producers. energy (turbines - flares). The passage of gases from the body of the container to the tubular cage is effected by recesses 15 made under the assembly braces of the tubular cage. Storage and recycling (applications) are established in areas also symbolized by the colors - green, red or yellow depending on the nature of the waste. These zones are determined by the competent technical and political authorities.

The type U container (fig. 2), red in color, is intended for moderately toxic waste and is part of the red treatment. D consists of the type I container, as described above, into which a cage of reinforced glass is slid (fig. 2- 1) closed by a cover of the same kind (fig. 2-2). Gas evacuation nozzles (fig. 2-4) are provided and connected to the recesses under the cross-pieces of the tubular cage. In the case of toxic liquids, a tank (fig. 2-3) will take the place of the glass cage. Gas evacuation nozzles are connected to the recesses of the tube cage. Storage and applications (recycling) can be designed under certain safety and assembly conditions in green areas as well as in the red areas provided for this purpose.

The HI type container (fig. 3), yellow in color, is intended for the storage of very toxic waste and is part of the yellow treatment. It consists of the type I container as described above, in which walls and a lead base are assembled (fig. 3-1). Inside these, slide either a reinforced glass cage (fig. 3-5), or a tank (fig. 3-9), or both. Lead and glass covers seal the respective walls. Openings (fig. 3), made in the tank and the respective covers, allow the connection of discharge nozzles (fig. 3-7) to the recesses of the tubular cage provided for this purpose. The yellow containers will be stored in yellow zones or assembled with other containers in different zones, according to very strict security criteria.

Claims

Revendica rionsI: "GREEN" treatment - Type I "GREEN" container for the storage of non-toxic solid, liquid and powdery waste, the majority of which comes from household waste, construction, industry, hospitals, used oil , dredging and clearing sludge (previously dried), which require only the simplest preservauon, are distinguished by the green color (bags, drums and containers). Operating principle of the conservauon treatment of "green" waste. Each party concerned collects their usual waste in green bags or drums. These are collected by already existing dump trucks, repainted in the color green. At the “green” landfill, solid waste is discharged into a crusher hopper. The residues are transported to large hydraulic presses where they are compacted into bales, packaged, then brought to the containers for disposal (filling). Powdery or liquid waste is poured directly into the containers. The barrels are recovered. After sealing the lid, the containers are sent to a green storage location or immediately used in an application (recycling on site) also of the green type. Description of the “green” type 1 container: (fig. 1) The type I container, characterized by the color green, constitutes the basic container for the storage of waste. Its external dimensions are in the ratio of two lengths for a width and a height, such as for example: length: 4 m - width and height: 2 m. These values can be modified, as long as all the possibilities of assemblies and interconnections are kept, in order to adjust the quesuon of the total weight for transport and future mampulaUons. II is also characterized by: rectangular tubular cage (1) made of vertical tubes, threaded both at their head and at their foot, and horizontal tubes of the same diameter. They are joined to each other by elbowed and threaded tubular cross-pieces (2). The threaded parts (3) above protrude from the crosspieces in order to receive the fixing sleeves (12) of the cover. The threaded parts of the bottom (4) will receive fixing sleeves for the lifting system used in the various manipulations. Under the upper cross-pieces, a recess (15) is made in the tube in order to allow any gases to escape (non-return valve) via the interconnections. They can be closed if necessary. The whole is executed in unalterable steel (galvanized steel for example). b) A thick aluminum honeycomb structure (5) (not listed in the industry), crossed by the tubes of the above-mentioned cage, determines the walls. The bottom (6) is composed of two thicknesses of honeycomb structure of different dimensions but integral with one another (see also cover). The first supports the walls, the second is inside the cage. The whole, walls and bottom, is filled and covered, on either side of the honeycomb thickness, in the proportions lA, Vi, VA, of treated PVC or polyurethane or synthetic resin (polyester not saturated liquid), for example, in a single opera¬ tion, guaranteeing homogeneity, solidity, resistance and total tightness of the whole. c) The external appearance of the bottom (additional thickness obtained during molding - see above) is molded so as to obtain studs and square recesses (7) allowing the assembly with the base (8) and / or overlapping with other containers. The bottom surface is therefore opposite to that of the cover (9) and the base. The median recesses (10), both in length and in width, as well as the corner studs (11) are half height (or depth), in order to receive the threaded fixing sleeves with flat head and to allow an interconnection of the containers by means of interconnected sleeves (13). These half hollow also allow the placement of lifting clamps for all transport and assembly manipulauons The external rows (17) studs and hollow, are machined over half a width. d) The cover is made in the same dimensions and according to the same method as those used for the bottom. vs. à d an upper surface (9) which comes to rest on the fields of the container, and an interior surface (14), integral with the 1st, which is interior to the walls. The two surfaces (honeycomb) are filled and covered with a flow of island mauere on the walls of the container. The studs and recesses of the cover (additional thickness) are reversed compared to those of the bottom. The middle corners and half flats are drilled to allow the fixing sleeves to be aimed on the threaded rods protruding from the walls and seal the cover. If necessary, a contact adhesive can optionally be applied to the edges of the lid and the container before sealing it definitively. e) A base (8) is constructed according to the same principles as the bottom (or cover) of the container, but over a greater thickness, namely: a lower covering thickness, a thickness of mesh in md of bees (full ), a higher coating thickness (e.g. 10 cm / 10 cm / 10 cm). The width and length depend on the type of application to be carried out, as well as the type of assembly, the number of assemblies planned, etc. This base is common to all types of containers. The fixing sleeves as shown (12), have a triple utility: 1. attach the cover. 2. receive the eyelet bolts (16), allowing transport or handling by a lifting system with hooks (for example). 3. then receive the interconnection sleeves (13). g) The interconnection sleeves (13) serve as guides for quick, precise and tight assembly. The dimensions are calculated so that they can be embedded in the fixing sleeves of the containers at the time of assembly. They transport the gases from containers to containers up to the recovery pipes (not shown). They are common to all types of containers. The gases produced by the decomposiϋon and the combination of waste are recovered, via the internal recesses of the tubes, pass through the interconnection sleeves, from assembly to assembly in order to arrive in the main pipe (s). (s). It (s) vehicle (s), under natural pressure, all the gases thus collected to an energy production plant or to turbines or in the form of flares, for example. h) The apphcauons deriving directly from the assemblies (fig. 5 to 8 - chapter Assemblies) carried out, which characterize recycling in "green treatment" are: - Pre-iondaπons and melts of villas, houses and buildings. - Stabilizing layers for streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, highways, parking lots. - Ground and stabilizer layers for runways and landings for planes, private, public and military - Underground and stabilization layers for railway lines (e.g. T.G.V.) metro, with platforms and stations. - Creation of storm or / and diversion basins for major floods in so-called "flood-prone" areas - Creation of high, bankable banks (pedestrians, vehicles), along watercourses, rivers, canals (avoids mondauons). - Creation of sea dikes, harbors, raised piers (against tidal waves, hurricanes) - Military apphcauons like abπs, hangars, depots ... - Energy production by gas recovery. - Creation of air, land and sea communication infrastructures in countries around the world. - Storage possible in all areas before applications 2 ^• "RED" treatment - type 11 "RED" container for the storage of toxic solid, liquid and powdery waste from the pharmaceutical industries, medical laboratories, hospitals, cosmetics companies, etc. with medium or low toxicity. requiring enhanced safety conservation, dissolve with the red color (bags, drums, tanks and containers) Principle of operation of the treatment by conservauon of "red" waste Each party concerned gathers its waste according to their nature in bags, barrels or tanks of red color The bags are collected by dump trucks, of red color For all liquid waste or powdery, these can be put in barrels or in a tank, and brought by managers (firms) on the job to fill the containers After dumping a recovery of the barrels is possible. The tank is slipped into the container After sealing the lid, the containers are diverted to a red storage tank or directly recycled (see apphcauons) Description of the type II "red" container (fιg.2) The type II container, characterized by the red color, consumes the reinforced safety container suitable for the waste referred to in B a) The type I container is used, as previously described (except color). b) Next, a reinforced glass cage (1) is slipped into it, assembled using the glass technique, perfectly matching the internal dimensions of the container. The thickness of the glass is calculated according to the standards of resistance of the materials according to the requested dimensions (vanable) This glass cage receives the bags of red waste duly compressed and packaged using lattices, for example c) A glass cover (2) will be applied to close the cage. Evacuation nozzles (4) for gases are provided and connected to the recesses (fig. 1-15) for evacuating the containers d) In the case of filling the container with hermetically sealed drums, or by a tank (3) , the glass cage is superfluous. The drums or the tank are placed as they are in the type I container. To stabilize the drums, or the tank, the spaces and intersuces are gradually filled with used oil or dredging sludge. ex. In the case of a tank slipped inside, outlets (5) are provided for the possible evacuauon of gas. These outlets will be connected by conduits to the internal evacuauon openings of the container (recesses (15) under the braces). e) The container lid will be executed and sealed according to the same characteristics as for the type I container. 0 The applications which characterize the "red treatment" and which derive from the assemblies (fig 5 to 8 - chapter Assemblies) produced are - In the green zone, a combination of assemblies with the green containers, under certain safety conditions (far from residential areas, such as an airfield) can be carried out - In other cases, apphcauons and storage will be in the red zone 3 YELLOW treatment - "YELLOW" type III container. is intended for the storage of very toxic solid, liquid and powdery waste, coming from chemical factories, medical research laboratories, etc. which require optimal storage, are dissolving by the yellow color (bags, drums and containers) Waste, little or moderately radioacufs can be kept in these containers Operating principle of the "YELLOW" waste treatment treatment Each producer of waste condiuuates its waste on the basis of its toxicity and the nature of it (solid, liquid or powdery), in bags, drums or cistern Bags and drums are collected by yellow dump trucks. As in type II treatment, the barrels can be recovered or not. Tanks transported by trucks are exchanged or lost. The rest of the procedure is identical to type II Descπpϋon of the type III container "YELLOW" (fig 3) The type III container characterized by the color | alder, consumes the opumously safe container for very toxic waste, question in C a) We use the type I container, as described above (except color). b) Walls and a lead base (1) slide and assemble (tenons - mortises or internal hot bonding) in the container (2) in order to form a second protection. c) A reinforced glass cage (3) of suitable dimensions slides between the lead walls and thus forms the third protection. d) A glass cover (4) is machined so as to close the glass cage. e) A second cover (5), made of lead, covers the lead cage. f) Corresponding openings (6) are made in each of them, in order to allow the connection of the gas evacuation pipes (7) to the provided recesses (15, fig.l). g) A last cover (8), identical to container I, seals the whole. h) In the case of very toxic waste collected in a tank (9), it will slip directly between the walls of the glass cage, forming a fourth protecuon. The voids are filled as in the type D container. I) If the formation of non-recoverable gases is envisaged, the drums or the tank are filled so as to leave sufficient space to allow the expansion of the gases and to avoid any nsque of explosion. In the other case, the gases are recovered via the orifices and nozzles provided for this purpose and connected to the recesses of the tubular cage. The gases will then follow the same path as in containers I and II to the external collecting pipes, j) The apphcauons which characterize the "yellow treatment" are as follows: - Suitable for storing used batteries. - Under certain safety conditions, assemblies with type I and / or type II containers can be combined. In all other cases they are stored in places called "YELLOW" and kept under constant surveillance (disused quarries, for example). - In the case of radioactive waste, only storage in yellow areas offers the greatest safety. If necessary, a concrete shell can be poured in order to "seal" the storage area definitively and without risk (eg: double-base assembly in an abandoned quarry).