Research targets dross and baghouse dust.Research Targets Dross and Baghouse Dust The Electric Power Research Institute's Center for Materials Production (EPRI/CMP) is funding research to develop a dc plasma arc technology for processing dross and baghouse dust to produce environmentally safe materials. In addition, dc plasma arc melting of aluminum is being evaluated as a means of minimizing dross and baghouse dust formation. The EPRI/CMP research is in response to the aluminum smelting smelting, in metallurgy, any process of melting or fusion, especially to extract a metal from its ore. Smelting processes vary in detail depending on the nature of the ore and the metal involved, but they are typified in the use of the blast furnace. industry's increased pressure from state and federal environmental agencies to minimize or eliminate land disposal of process wastes (such as aluminum dross residue, salt fluxes and baghouse dust). Dross can contain heavy metals heavy metals, n.pl metallic compounds, such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Exposure to these metals has been linked to immune, kidney, and neurotic disorders. such as lead, cadmium cadmium (kăd`mēəm) [from cadmia, Lat. for calamine, with which cadmium is found associated], metallic chemical element; symbol Cd; at. no. 48; at. wt. 112.41; m.p. 321°C;; b.p. 765°C;; sp. gr. 8. and chromium chromium (krō`mēəm) [Gr.,=color], metallic chemical element; symbol Cr; at. no. 24; at. wt. 51.996; m.p. about 1,857°C;; b.p. 2,672°C;; sp. gr. about 7.2 at 20°C;; valence +2, +3, +6. - depending on the type of aluminum (ingot ingot Mass of metal cast into a size and shape such as a bar, plate, or sheet convenient to store, transport, and work into a semifinished or finished product. The term also refers to a mold in which metal is so cast. or scrap) being produced. About 600,000 tons of dross were produced in 1989. Salt fluxes containing chlorides and fluorides are used to varying degrees, particularly by smelters melting scrap. This can add to the dross disposal problem. To further complicate waste disposal problems, baghouse dust produced during melting can contain heavy metals such as lead and cadmium from melting painted siding and scrap from auto shredders. EPRI/CMP's research results will be presented from 1 to 5 p.m. Sep 25 at the Royce Hotel, Pittsburgh (Greater Pittsburgh Airport area). The EPRI/CMP meeting also will include presentations on the latest in dross and baghouse dust disposal technology from industry and demonstration projects to evaluate specific technologies. Interested utilities and their customers may attend by contacting: Bob Schmitt, CMP CMP (cytidine monophosphate): see cytosine. (1) (CMP Media LLC, Manhasset, NY, www.cmp.com) Part of United Business Media, CMP is a leading integrated media company that offers a wide variety of publications and services in the information , Carnegie Mellon Research Institute, 4400 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2683; 412/268-6442; fax 412/268-6852. |
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