INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH PROGRAM
REMOVAL AND VITRIFICATION OF LEAD-BASED PAINTS
Research Activities Summary
Research activities carried out in this program involved preparation of glass powder to be
used as feedstock material in the flame spray operations, characterization of the spray
feedstock, spray process characterization and optimization, lead removal experiments, lead
leach rate studies and in situ vitrification experiments. The results of these studies showed
the following.
- As compared to alkali silicate and boro silicate glasses, efficient lead removal and
containment is achieved with ferro silicate glass.
- A three stage process - preheat to a set temperature, spray about 0.75 to 1.0 mm thick
glass layer, fuse the sprayed layer using the spray flame - yields the highest lead
removal rate.
- Multiple sprayed layers are required for complete removal of the lead paint from the
panels.
- The lead absorbed into the sprayed layer is partially vitrified during the spray process
itself and complete vitrification can be achieved by remelting the deposits.
- The lead, vitrified in the glass layer, does not get leached away, and the glass layer
passes the TCLP tests.
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last updated 03/15/96 by
Dr. J. Karthikeyan