Volume Reduction of Aircraft Depainting Wastes

The proposed project results in removing chromate from paint waste as pure sodium bichromate, and removing strontium as pure strontium sulfate. These two chemicals can be reused and recombined by the paint companies to make new strontium chromate corrosion inhibitor pigments. The key mineral components (strontium and chromate) can be fully recycled. The organic conponents (mainly polyurethane and epoxy) are fully oxidized to CO2, Nitrogen, etc... The main inngredient of the proposed project, fuming sulfuric acid, is used to digest and oxidize waste paint debris. Chemicals consumed by the proposed process are sulfur dioxide and caustic; while the chemicals created are pure sodium bichromate, pure strontium sulfate, and pure sulfuric acid. A discussion of the chemistry, a process flow sheet and a process material balance is included in the proposal. We have also listed what is not fully known and needs to be addressed to achieve proof-of-concept. The entire proposal is aimed at the design and contruction of a laboratory bench top waste paint treatment process to be tested using pure strontium chromate in Item 0001, and, with satisfactory results; testing using actual paint waste containing strontium chromate in Item 0002.