CASE STUDY #1:
Recycling of Isopropyl Alcohol

A manufacturer of hearing aids in Minnesota used isopropyl alcohol to clean laser-formed plastic parts. The solvent waste stream was comprised of isopropyl alcohol contaminated with plastic resin particulate. While alcohol waste volumes were a modest 60 gallons per month, stringent regulatory oversight compelled the manufacturer to devise a solvent management program. The manufacturer needed a solvent recycler that was compact and mobile, yet capable of processing sticky plastic resin residue. In addition to those requirements, the unit also had to yield a high-purity recovered product.

After successfully testing several waste samples, CBG's engineers designed and built the TechnoClean Plus solvent recycler. This model combined the smaller footprint and mobility of a laboratory unit with the heavy-duty processing capabilities of a stationary industrial unit. The polyethylene bag tank liner captured the problematic, sticky resin, allowing for safe and easy handling of the residue. The unit’s fractional distillation system resulted in a much higher purity and concentration of the recovered product than could have been achieved by a simple distillation approach.

Implementation of the CBG TechnoClean Plus solvent recycler resulted in a 90% reduction in solvent purchasing and disposal, as well as lowering their waste generator status. The customer’s payback will be achieved within 18 months.

CASE STUDY #2:
Recycling of Ethyl Alcohol

A manufacturer of filtering systems, located in Maine, uses over 5,000 gallons of ethyl alcohol per year for various cleaning applications. Their annual cost for purchasing new alcohol and for disposing of their waste was almost $30,000, and they were beginning to have some compliance issues.

There actually were three different waste streams having different concentrations of alcohol and water, and they needed to reclaim the alcohol at very high purity levels. They also needed equipment (i) that operated quietly, (ii) that didn’t emit much heat into the surrounding environment, (iii) that was very safe to operate, and (iv) that did not need very much personnel involvement.

The technical staff at CBG Technologies evaluated the needs and they recycled actual samples from the waste streams. Following these evaluation, two 10-gallon, air-cooled, fractional distillation solvent recyclers were installed. These recyclers not only met all of the manufacturer’s emission and safety needs, but additionally provided a fully automatic process. Further, by purchasing two recyclers, the manufacturer was able to stagger their recycling, and at the same time, maintain a back-up capability in case one recycler needed maintenance.

By recycling, the customer was able to reduce their total costs by approximately 90 %, and their payback on investment was about 15 months.

CASE STUDY #3:
Recycling Multiple Solvent Waste Streams

An electronic circuit board manufacturer in New Jersey uses three different solvents for various cleaning applications, and they needed to reduce both their costs and their EPA reporting levels.

The three different waste streams were: (i) A suspension of silicon primer and dust in alcohol; (ii) a solution of oil in a mineral spirits solvent; and (iii) a solution of ink in acetone. The costs for new solvent and the disposal of the different wastes was almost $25,000 per year.

The manufacturer needed to recover these three solvents at high purity, at high recovery levels, and free of the other solvents. There also were several safety concerns including the need for a Class I Division II recycler, and the need for a virtually automatic operation.

After successfully recycling samples of their solvent wastes, CBG Technologies installed an 8-gallon solvent recycler having a conical Teflon-lined boiling tank. The recycler was capable of recycling all three of these waste streams (one at a time), and its computer had separate programs for each waste stream.

The recycler uses fractional distillation in order to obtain the higher purities and good separations that are needed by the customer. The Teflon lining in the boiling tank permits viscous wastes to be easily drained at the end of a run. The built-in safety features provided the necessary “comfort” for the customer, and an auto-fill attachment minimized the need to continually add solvent wastes.  The payback on investment was achieved in less than 16 months, and their EPA issues were greatly reduced.

CASE STUDY #4:
Recycling of Xylene

A manufacturer of doors and windows in Ohio uses xylene to clean paint guns on its assembly line. The solvent waste consists of a suspension of paint in xylene. They use more than 6,000 gallons of xylene each year, and their purchase and waste disposal costs currently are almost #$30,000.

After successfully recycling samples of their solvent waste, CBG Technologies installed a 25-gallon solvent recycler containing a conical Teflon-lined boiling tank. This construction ensures that viscous wastes are easily removed at the end of the run. An auto-fill feature attachment eliminates the handling of solvent wastes.

Recycling reduced their total purchasing and disposal costs by approximately 90%, and their payback was reached in 12-13 months.