Hazardous Waste Cement Aggregates via Acrylic Polymer Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The disposal of hazardous waste materials poses environmental risks due to improper handling, and existing methods for converting them into reusable aggregates for concrete production are inefficient, often requiring costly chemical treatments and generating hazardous by-products.

Innovation Solution

A process involving preselection, screening, demetallization, and mixing of treated waste materials with cement and specific additives, such as acrylic polymers and aluminium sulphate, followed by controlled curing and crushing, to produce inert cement aggregates suitable for concrete formulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If chemical washing under pressure is used to treat hazardous waste, then hazardous components are separated and inert mass is obtained, but the process requires costly chemical treatments and generates hazardous by-products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehazardous by-productsVSAvoidchemical treatment process
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by converting hazardous waste materials directly into useful cement aggregates through a thermal treatment process. Instead of using chemical washing to separate hazardous components, the process thermally transforms the hazardous waste into stable, inert aggregate material that can be used in construction, thereby converting a harmful substance into a beneficial product without generating additional hazardous by-products

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical washing system with a thermal processing system. Rather than using chemical reagents and pressure washing to treat hazardous waste, the invention uses controlled thermal treatment to transform the waste into stable aggregates, substituting a complex chemical-mechanical process with a simpler thermal process that avoids hazardous by-products

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If hazardous waste is disposed of in landfill sites, then environmental risks are reduced, but disposal costs are much higher than correct disposal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental risksVSAvoiddisposal costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by recovering value from hazardous waste materials that would otherwise be discarded in landfills. The process transforms the waste into reusable cement aggregates, creating a valuable construction material from what would be costly disposable waste, thereby reducing both environmental risks and disposal costs through material recovery and reuse

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If existing methods convert hazardous waste into reusable aggregates, then waste recycling is enabled, but the methods are inefficient and require costly chemical treatments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecycling efficiencyVSAvoidchemical treatment requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces inefficient chemical treatment methods with a thermal processing system that directly converts hazardous waste into stable aggregates. This substitution improves recycling efficiency by eliminating complex chemical treatment steps while maintaining the ability to produce reusable construction materials from hazardous waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the treatment approach from chemical-based to thermal-based processing. By changing the fundamental parameter of treatment method (from chemical to thermal), the process achieves higher efficiency and eliminates the need for costly chemical treatments while still enabling effective waste-to-aggregate conversion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This process effectively transforms hazardous waste into stable, high-strength aggregates that can replace traditional concrete components, reducing environmental impact and enabling safe, eco-compatible recycling of hazardous wastes while avoiding costly chemical treatments.

Implementation Method 1

suitable mixing of the material obtained from step e) with a superfluidizing additive, preferably an aqueous solution having a concentration comprised between 25% and 35% by weight of acrylic polymers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuperfluidizing:

Implementation Method 2

subsequent addition of aluminium sulphate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Implementation Method 3

first controlled curing, preferably for a time comprised between 1 and 24 hours, h) crushing, i) second curing, preferably for at least 5 days

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydration: Mineral Hydration

Data Source

PatentEP2883849B1Process for preparation of artificial aggregates for concrete
Publication Date: 2019.02.13 CONSORZIO CEREA
  • EP2883849B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2883849B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention refers to a cement composition comprising waste material, and to a process for its preparation. Said process is characterized by a step of controlled mixing with cement, in the presence of at least one polymeric acrylic aggregating and inertizing additive, followed by steps of curing and crushing. The composition of the invention, in the form for example of pseudo-spherical aggregates, is useful in particular as an inert component for the formulation of concretes and similar and makes possible, furthermore, the recycling of hazardous waste material.