US4332626A — Method for removing liquid residues from vessels …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 147 words

A non-catalytic method of decontaminating vessels used for storing, transporting, or processing oxidizable liquid organic chemicals, which comprises: a. introducing oxygen and a source of heat directly into the interior of the vessel, said vessel containing minor contaminating amounts of said liquid organic chemical, the heat emitted from said heat source being sufficient to heat the interior surfaces of the vessel to a temperature sufficient to volatilize substantially all and decompose at least a portion of said oxidizable liquid organic chemical contaminating the interior of said vessel, thereby to produce combustion gas within the vessel; b. exhausting from the vessel combustion gas resulting from step (a); c. filtering particulates from the exhausted combustion gas and decomposing with heat volatilized organic chemical remaining in the combustion gas exhausted from the vessel; and d. venting to the atmosphere combustion gas substantially free of said particulates and oxidizable organic chemical.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 147 words

A non-catalytic method of decontaminating vessels used for storing, transporting, or processing oxidizable liquid organic chemicals, which comprises: a. introducing oxygen and a source of heat directly into the interior of the vessel, said vessel containing minor contaminating amounts of said liquid organic chemical, the heat emitted from said heat source being sufficient to heat the interior surfaces of the vessel to a temperature sufficient to volatilize substantially all and decompose at least a portion of said oxidizable liquid organic chemical contaminating the interior of said vessel, thereby to produce combustion gas within the vessel; b. exhausting from the vessel combustion gas resulting from step (a); c. filtering particulates from the exhausted combustion gas and decomposing with heat volatilized organic chemical remaining in the combustion gas exhausted from the vessel; and d. venting to the atmosphere combustion gas substantially free of said particulates and oxidizable organic chemical.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the vessel is a large vessel having a capacity of from about 1,500 to 36,000 liters.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the interior surfaces of the vessel are heated to from about 200° C. to about 650° C. for from about 1 to 24 hours.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 3 wherein the oxidizable liquid chemical is alkyl lead, ethylene dibromide, ethylene dichloride, or vinyl chloride.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the heat source is superheated air or a burner fueled by natural gas or liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the vessel is a railroad tank car.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 170 words

A method of decontaminating large vessels used for storing, transporting or processing liquid alkyl lead which comprises: a. introducing oxygen and a source of heat directly into the interior of the vessel, said vessel containing minor contaminating amounts of said liquid alkyl lead, the heat emitted from said heat source being sufficient to heat the interior surfaces of the vessel to a temperature sufficient to volatilize substantially all and decompose at least a portion of said alkyl lead contaminating the interior of said vessel, thereby to produce a combustion gas within the vessel; b. exhausting from the vessel combustion gas and lead dixoide particles resulting from the volatilization and decomposition of the alkyl lead during step (a); c. filtering lead dioxide particles and combustion gas exhausted from the vessel, thereby to separate said particles from the combustion gas; d. decomposing with heat alkyl lead remaining in the combustion gas exhausted from the vessel; and e. venting to the atmosphere combustion gas substantially free of lead dioxide particles and alkyl lead.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 170 words

A method of decontaminating large vessels used for storing, transporting or processing liquid alkyl lead which comprises: a. introducing oxygen and a source of heat directly into the interior of the vessel, said vessel containing minor contaminating amounts of said liquid alkyl lead, the heat emitted from said heat source being sufficient to heat the interior surfaces of the vessel to a temperature sufficient to volatilize substantially all and decompose at least a portion of said alkyl lead contaminating the interior of said vessel, thereby to produce a combustion gas within the vessel; b. exhausting from the vessel combustion gas and lead dixoide particles resulting from the volatilization and decomposition of the alkyl lead during step (a); c. filtering lead dioxide particles and combustion gas exhausted from the vessel, thereby to separate said particles from the combustion gas; d. decomposing with heat alkyl lead remaining in the combustion gas exhausted from the vessel; and e. venting to the atmosphere combustion gas substantially free of lead dioxide particles and alkyl lead.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 7 wherein the alkyl lead is tetraethyl lead, tetramethyl lead or mixtures of tetraethyl lead and tetramethyl lead.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 32 words

The method of claims 7 or 8 wherein the interior surfaces of the vessel are heated to from about 200° C. to about 650° C. for from about 1 to 24 hours.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 7 wherein the heat source is superheated air or a portable burner fueled by natural gas or liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 7 wherein a bag filter is used for filtering the exhausted lead dioxide particles and combustion gas.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 11 wherein the bag filter is also used to filter flue gas derived from the manufacture of alkyl lead.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 20 words

The method of claims 1 or 4 wherein substantially all of the liquid organic chemical is decomposed in step (a).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 7 wherein the vessel is selected from the group consisting of a railroad tank car, process vessel and a portable storage tank.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 7 wherein substantially all of the alkyl lead is decomposed in step (a).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 11, wherein a portion of the alkyl lead in the exhausted gas is decomposed by the action of a lead dioxide catalyst on the surface of the filter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-05-31	1985-11-30	1986-06-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-05-31	1989-11-30	1990-06-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-05-31	1993-11-30	1994-06-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method for removing liquid residues from vessels by combustion

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag