Project Page Views: [ 659 ]
Project Metadata Element | Details |
Project Title | Development and demonstration of an emission free process for crystal manufacture |
Research Area | Water |
Project Acronym | |
Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | John Kennedy (IE) |
Lead Institution or Organisation | Waterford Crystal |
Lead Country | Ireland |
Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 52.25948, -7.10679 |
Lead Funding Entity | LIFE |
Approximate Project Start Date | 01/04/1994 |
Approximate Project Finishing Date | 30/04/1996 |
Project Website (if any) | |
Links to other Web-based resources | |
Project Keywords | Toxic compounds; Clean technology; Glass industry; Hazardous substance |
Project Abstract | The large quantities of toxic lead compounds and hydrofluoric acid used in glass manufacture raise environmental and occupational health and safety issues, and can lead to controlled toxic emissions to the atmosphere and to water, and waste containing lead and neutralised acid sent to landfill. Industry research has examined these issues separately but no one has collected the results to demonstrate a feasible, clean process for crystal glass manufacture. This project has three main objectives. First, to bring together research on melting and forming of new glass compounds made from non-toxic components to eliminate the use of lead. Second, to develop surface treatments for decoration and polishing of products to eliminate the use of dangerous acids. Third, to construct a self-contained manufacturing cell unit, within the main factory, to examine both air- and water-borne waste streams and to develop systems which permit total recycling of waste produced at each process stage. The environmental benefits could rapidly be disseminated throughout the European Union and the world crystal glass industry. The four main elements of the project are: *Glass melting -new non-toxic glass compositions will be melted in a conventional pot furnace. Modifications will be made which should result in a reduction in energy consumption. *Glass cutting and polishing -new mechanical surface finishing processes will be introduced. *Waste recycling and reuse -new in-factory methods will ensure collection of waste and its recycling to the melting furnace or to materials suppliers for the recovery of raw materials, or reuse in other processes. *Integration and operation -process parameters will be recorded and analysed to establish the data needed to install a production line process. If the process is proven it will be integrated into production at Waterford Crystal. |