Grantee Research Project Results
Preparation of Ceramic Glaze Waste for Recycling using Froth Flotation
EPA Grant Number: R830420C007Subproject: this is subproject number 007 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R830420
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Environmental and Energy Research (CEER)
Center Director: Earl, David A.
Title: Preparation of Ceramic Glaze Waste for Recycling using Froth Flotation
Investigators: Carty, William
Institution: Alfred University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: May 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Targeted Research Center (2004) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
Pb-containing and Pb-free fritted glazes that contain pigments and colorants are problematic for recycling. The glazes are difficult to reuse or to re-introduce to the manufacturing process because the colors cannot easily be diluted to an acceptable level. Efforts to separate pigments and glazes using sedimentation typically fail because the frit and pigment particles have similar or overlapping sedimentation velocities, so hydrocycloning and simple sedimentation are not viable options. Froth flotation, however, is feasible because it exploits surface chemistry differences and the pigment and frit particles typically have substantially different surface chemistries. The focus of this research will be to use froth floatation to separate pigments from glaze frit. The information from this study will allow surfactants to be selected based on the nature of the pigment and frit particles to allow the efficient separation of the these species. In this way even complex glaze systems can be separated by using a predetermined multi-step floatation process.
It is theorized that froth flotation can be used to exploit surface chemistry differences between frit and pigment in waste glaze and obtain separation between the components. In this way components from glaze could be separated, purified and reused in the process. One goal from this research is to develop a quick method of determining if a system lends itself to froth flotation. Another goal is to develop a grid that enables one to select the correct chemicals to enable froth flotation and to define the process variables required for any given system.
Approach:
Materials include Ferro Frit #3124 (as a reasonable example of a typical glaze frit), Mason chrome free black pigment, Mason praseodymium yellow, Sodium Oleate, Dodeclyamine and water. Instruments to be used include the Galigher Model LA-500 agitator and the Micromeritics Gemini surface area analyzer. Standard lab equipment such as sieves, distilled water bottles, laboratory weight balances, weighing pans or paper, graduated cylinders, hot plates, beakers, stirring rods and filter paper will be used.
Expected Results:
Potential benefits to the environment would be the reduction of waste ceramic glaze that would have to be processed and disposed of into landfills. The potential reduction in landfill amounts is substantial. A typical dinnerware manufacturer generates up to 600,000 lbs. of glaze waste per year; roughly 90% of this waste is frit. It is anticipated that the amount of landfill material from commercial production facilities could be reduced by 80% with a reasonably efficient froth flotation process. This approach could be applied to both Pb-containing and Pb-free systems with similar efficiency.
Supplemental Keywords:
Glaze recycling, froth flotation, silicate flotation, ceramic glazes, ceramic manufacturing efficiency, waste reduction,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Waste, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Sustainable Industry/Business, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Municipal, Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Environment, Technology, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Aquatic Ecosystem, New/Innovative technologies, Environmental Engineering, waste reduction, clean technologies, alumina powder, municipal waste, ceramic waste, recycling, coating formulations, ceramic industrial waste, water quality, pollution preventionProgress and Final Reports:
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R830420 Center for Environmental and Energy Research (CEER) Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R828737C001 Environmental Impact of Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems
R828737C002 Regional Economic and Material Flows
R828737C003 Visualizing Growth and Sustainability of Water Resources
R828737C004 Vibratory Residual Stress Relief and Modifications in Metals to Conserve Resources and Prevent Pollution
R828737C005 Detecting and Quantifying the Evolution of Hazardous Air Pollutants Produced During High Temperature Manufacturing: A Focus on Batching of Nitrate Containing Glasses
R828737C006 Sulfate and Nitrate Dynamics in the Canacadea Watershed
R828737C007 Variations in Subsurface Denitrifying and Sulfate-Reducing Microbial Populations as a Result of Acid Precipitation
R828737C008 Recycling Glass-Reinforced Thermoset Polymer Composite Materials
R828737C009 Correlating Clay Mineralogy with Performance: Reducing Manufacturing Waste Through Improved Understanding
R830420C001 Accelerated Hydrogen Diffusion Through Glass Microspheres: An Enabling Technology for a Hydrogen Economy
R830420C002 Utilization of Paper Mill Waste in Ceramic Products
R830420C003 Development of Passive Humidity-Control Materials
R830420C004 Microarray System for Contaminated Water Analysis
R830420C005 Material and Environmental Sustainability in Ceramic Processing
R830420C006 Interaction of Sealing Glasses with Metallic Interconnects in Solid Oxide and Polymer Fuel Cells
R830420C007 Preparation of Ceramic Glaze Waste for Recycling using Froth Flotation
R830420C008 Elimination of Lead from Ceramic Glazes by Refractive Index Tailoring
R830420C010 Nanostructured C6B: A Novel Boron Rich Carbon for H2 Storage
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.