Abstract Oil-laden metal waste such as turnings, chips and the like are cleaned to remove oil and other impurities from the metal waste enabling recovery of the metal and reclaiming of the oil. The cleaning is achieved through counterflow of a detergent solution in a wash bath, removing the cleaned metal waste from the bath and separating a substantial quantity of the remaining moisture therefrom, and removing the detergent solution from the wash bath and running it through a rehabilitation circuit where it is subjected to centrifugal force to separate sludge and oil from the solution. Then concentrated makeup detergent solution is added, the makeup and restored detergent solution heated and returned from the rehabilitation circuit to the wash bath.
A process for cleaning oil-laden metal waste as recited in claim 1 wherein the substantial quantity of remaining moisture is separated by subjecting the cleaned metal waste to centrifugal force, and the separated remaining moisture is returned to said rehabilitation circuit for reuse in the wash bath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process for cleaning oil-laden metal waste as recited in claim 1 wherein the substantial quantity of remaining moisture is separated from the removed cleaned metal waste by subjecting the cleaned metal waste to drying conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process for cleaning oil-laden metal waste as recited in claim 1 wherein the makeup and restored solution are withdrawn and subjected to said heating before return to the wash bath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A process for cleaning oil-laden metal waste as recited in claim 1 wherein surge accumulation of the cleaned metal waste is provided; the accumulated cleaned metal waste is intermittently subjected to centrifugal force; the substantial remaining moisture of the cleaned metal waste is removed by subjecting the cleaned metal waste to centrifugal force; and the separated remaining moisture is returned to said rehabilitation circuit.