Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Paint Removal From Architectural Surfaces With an Innovative Pulsed Light Source
EPA Contract Number: 68D03046Title: Paint Removal From Architectural Surfaces With an Innovative Pulsed Light Source
Investigators: Schaefer, Raymond B.
Small Business: Phoenix Science and Technology Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: May 1, 2003 through April 30, 2005
Project Amount: $225,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2002) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Waste , Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Environmental regulations for air emissions and waste disposal have created a need for paint removal methods that are both economically feasible and environmentally acceptable. Furthermore, architectural surfaces painted prior to 1978 have lead paint that should be removed to meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) lead concentration standards. Improved paint removal techniques are needed because approved techniques are inadequate. Media blasting and abrasive techniques, for example, generate a large volume of debris and can damage architectural materials. Chemical strippers are labor intensive, messy, and may be toxic.
Pulses of light can remove paint without generating secondary waste or damaging the surface and with minimal preparation and post-paint removal efforts before repainting. Paint strippers using flashlamps and lasers are available commercially but are too expensive and impractical for removing paint from architectural surfaces.
The objective of this research project was to demonstrate the practicality of using an innovative new surface discharge (SD) lamp as a low-cost alternative to existing techniques for stripping lead paint.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
In Phase II of this research project, a broad area depainter was developed that employs a high intensity pulsed SD lamp in an elliptical reflector trough. Light pulses from the lamp are imaged onto the painted surface and a single pulse strips an area approximately 2 inches wide by 11 inches long, depending on the paint. The vaporized paint is contained by a shroud and vacuumed into a filter system. Tests showed that lead concentrations of surfaces with lead paint are reduced to below the HUD guideline of 1 mg/cm2 for the action level, below the permissible exposure level (PEL) of lead in air, and below the threshold limit values for light emissions. In parallel with this project, a detailer depainter that strips paint from corners and small areas was developed under a HUD grant. Together, the broad area depainter developed through this project and the HUD detailer have the potential to remove paint from all surfaces. The commercial evaluation conducted by Phoenix Science & Technology, Inc., indicates that SD depainters will be cost-competitive with current methods for the full range of lead abatement uses and with the added environmental benefit of reducing waste generation and exposure to users and the public.
Conclusions:
Based on this program, the use of SD lamp technology for paint stripping architectural materials appears to be practical both technically and commercially. The economic analysis and commercialization study conducted as part of this Phase II research project, including a life-cycle cost analysis of a SD depainter, indicates that a commercial SD depainter will be a useful tool for lead abatement. Also, commercial feasibility is supported by the environmental benefit of SD lamp technology, reducing hazardous waste generation in comparison to chemical and media blast methods. The next steps are to optimize depaint rates using techniques identified during this research and then to mobilize SD depainters for field demonstrations.
Further development is needed to determine how SD depainters best will serve lead paint abatement. Possible uses range from full abatement to use for specific problem areas such as trim, windows, and doors. This paint removal technique, in addition to use for architectural surfaces, has widespread commercial potential for all types of paint stripping. Phoenix Science & Technology, Inc., is writing a paper for submission to the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology on the technical results of this research in conjunction with a companion HUD program
Supplemental Keywords:
photolytic paint removal, pulsed light, surface discharge lamp, SD, SD depainter, lead abatement, lead paint, architectural surface, SBIR, small business,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Toxics, Sustainable Industry/Business, POLLUTION PREVENTION, Sustainable Environment, cleaner production/pollution prevention, waste reduction, HAPS, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Waste, Civil Engineering, Economics and Business, Environmental Engineering, cleaner production, paint removal, Lead Compounds, waste minimization, pulsed light source, hazardous waste, cost benefit, recycling, innovative technology, architectural surfaces, source reduction, pulsed light sourcesSBIR Phase I:
Paint Removal From Architectural Surfaces With an Innovative Pulsed Light SourceThe 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.