Ray W Marcel

US Patent:

52501973, Oct 5, 1993

Filed:

Aug 7, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/926677

Inventors:

Ray C. Marcel - Berwick LA

International Classification:

B01D 2126

US Classification:

210787

Abstract:

A pollution pad cleaning system for recyclably removing hydrocarbons from an absorbent material such that the material is re-useable as originally designed. As the preferred embodiment a pollution pad cleaning system comprises a multi-stage treatment process wherein polypropylene absorbent pads soaked with waste oil and the like are treated via a system of squeeze rollers, a solvent shower, centrifuge spin, and then drying and fluffing, restoring the pads to a "like new," reusable condition. The collected waste oil and solvent are removed at a predesignated concentration from the system for recycling. While the preferred embodiment utilizes a continuous system with conveyors and the like, and wherein the contaminated pads are placed upon the ingress portion of the system and the cleaned, reusable pads are discharged from the exit end of the system, an alternative, working embodiment utilizes a system comprising a plurality of treatment stations which may be economically configured utilizing a minimum of labor and start-up costs. The present invention provides an inexpensive, environmentally sound method of treating and recycling pollution absorbing pads wherein in the past the pads were disposed of in landfills, creating still another pollution problem, and at a disposal cost greater than the cost of implementing the present cleaning and recycling system.