Autoclaving for PCB’s
Status & POPs application
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Well proven and available for many years. In
general for PCBs (only the oil and transformer
components such as ceramics, cardboard and
wood are incinerated).
After decontamination, the various metals such
as copper, steel and aluminium are sent to the
metals recycling industry.
POPs application:
PCB’s only - not for other POPs
Technology description
History:
3-6 times rinsing of units were not able to bring PCB’s down to 50mg/kg.
No adequate decontamination of transformer internal components: 0.5% to
4% (conc) PCBs remained at core and windings after 18 hours of soaking
and rinsing  Autoclaving solution
Principle:
Solvent decontamination process that extracts PCBs from
contaminated material.
Process:
Extraction solvent disrobes and solubilises PCBs from casing wall
surfaces and internal cores, coils and windings. The efficiency of
decontamination is a function of induced cycles of phase changes
of the extraction solvent within the material containing the PCBs.
PCB Transformers and capacitors
Transformers and
decontamination
capacitors reception in the
plant
Vacuum pumping (PCB)
PCB
liquids
Disassembling of tank
and core
Chloride recycling by
HCL production
Preparation of « large
basket »
Decontamination in
autoclaves
Thermic treatment
(static furnace)
Perchloroethylen
distillation
recycling
Complete Dismantling
Finishing treatment in
the copper kiln
Recycling
materials
Technology description
PART I: Adaptation Technology – Country
A. Performance
1. Minimum pre-treatment:
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Draining of contaminated oil from the materials.
Dismantling for transformers.
Sawing for capacitors.
Core, casing, ceramics and piping materials separation.
PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country
A. Performance (cont’d)
2. Destruction Efficiency (DE):
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DE values of greater than 99,999% have been
reported for all chlorinated compounds.
Input values:
>10 000 mg/kg PCBs askarel transformers
<10 000 mg/kg PCB’s mineral oil transformers
PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country
A. Performance (cont’d)
3. Toxic by-products:
Vacuum pump air exhaust is treated by active carbon filters. No
toxic by-products
4. Uncontrolled releases: --5. Capacity to treat all POPs:
No, only PCB’s
6. Throughput:  quantity [tons/day, l/day]
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Reach 50 t / day on cores
12000 t/y (example) (incl PCB and metal)
POPs throughput : [POPs waste/total waste in %]
PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country
A. Performance (cont’d)
7. Wastes/residuals:
Secondary waste stream volumes: --Off gas treatment:
The off gas is treated via an activated carbon filter.
Flow of gas 125 nm3 / h - conforms with the EU norms of emission
PART II: Adaption Country – Technology
A. Resource needs: Example 9 X France
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Power requirements: 1000 kVA
Water requirements: Closed – loop circuit. Volume flow is about 100 m3 / h
(directly rejected after use). No real water consumption, but if no well available,
cold water unit needed.
Reagents volumes: PCE as solvent. Amount needed ca 40 m3 Recycled
and reused. Overall consumption PCE: 200 t/y
Weather tight buildings:
Hazardous waste personnel requirement:
Sampling requirements/facilities:
Peer sampling:
Laboratory requirements:
Communication systems:
Number of (un/skilled) personnel required: 16 2 shifts of 8 persons
Complex plant requires expertise to run
PART II: Adaption Country – Technology
B: Costs (for case related in % of total):
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Argentina case taken: Total costs ca 1 Mio US $. Treatment cost
between 3 and 5 USD/kg
Installation + commissioning: 5 %
Site preparation: 2 %
Energy & Telecom installation: 330 kVA
Monitoring: 1%
Compliance:
Reporting: 1%
Run without waste:
Run with waste: 0,3 to 0,5 USD/kg
Decommissioning: 2 %
Landfilling: only for ceramics depending of local costs
Transport residues:
PART II: Adaption Country – Technology
C. Impact & D. Risks:
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Discharges to air:
125 Nm3 / h of gas, treated according to the EU norms.
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Discharges to water:
none
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Discharges to land: Ceramics: 400 t / y of non-contaminated neutral
material are landfilled
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Risks reagents applied: PCEwear tracing equipmt exposition
Risks of technology: limited Fire, but extensive fire fighting and
prevention equipment installed, strict temp.controls
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Operational risks:
Mechanical risks due to manipulation of heavy metallic parts
PART II: Adaption Country Technology
E. Constructability & F. Output
 Ease of installation & construction of plant:
complex
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Ease of shipping/transit:
Ease of operation:
Complex plant requiring expertise to run in origin country
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Ease of processing:
complex
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Generated waste (% of input waste): 
Deposited waste at landfill (% of input waste):
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Waste quality properties (pH, TCLP):
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Autoclave Mexico
Taiwan autoclaving
Argentina Autoclaving
Introduction
of internal
cores
in autoclave
Introduction materials in autoclave
Taiwan Dismantling area
Dismantling operation
draining at metallic platform
Dismantled materials
Distillation column for
Perchloroethylen recycling (France)
Mobile autoclave Canada
Strength’s
Weaknesses
For developing countries interesting:
only oil sent overseas for destruction.
PCBs + contaminated equipment
decontamination equipment to be
preferred over complete incineration.
Need large amounts of waste to
justify location in origin country (>
2000 tons) if yes:
a mobile autoclave can be considered
Cost effective: minimum amounts
send overseas.
Proper infrastructure such as power
supply + recycling industry must be
in place!!
Income recycling materials: Copper,
steel and aluminium are recycled in
origin country
Complex plant requires expertise to
run
Low emissions
Recycling of solvents
Large amounts of solvents (PCE)
used