Contaminated Solvent Recycling System

Abstract

A contaminated solvent recycling system comprises a distillation vessel having a distillation zone and a separate waste collection zone and heating means for heating contaminated solvent feed within the distillation zone vessel to distill off the solvent. By separating the distillation zone from the waste collection zone, the distillation zone can be made small enough to process small consecutive batches of contaminated solvent feed whilst the waste collection zone can be made large enough to accommodate waste accumulating from the distillation process for extended periods of time between waste removal operations.

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         32 . A distillation unit for use in a contaminated solvent recycling system for recycling clean solvent from a contaminated solvent feed, said distillation unit comprising:
 a distillation vessel and heating means for heating contaminated solvent feed within said vessel;   said distillation vessel holding a single volume of liquid and comprising a distillation zone and a separate waste collection zone located directly beneath said distillation zone for collecting waste from the distillation process;   waste being displaced from said distillation zone into said waste collection zone before said waste accumulates in said distillation zone to a sufficient extent to impede the operation of said distillation unit;   said heating means being disposed so as to heat solvent for which waste has been displaced away from said heating means;   means for introducing said contaminated solvent feed into said distillation zone;   and means for removing said waste from said waste collection zone,   wherein said distillation zone is confined to a top part of the distillation vessel by heating only the upper region of the distillation vessel and providing the separate waste collection zone within the distillation vessel,   
       and wherein the arrangement is such that waste falls away from the distillation zone to the waste collection zone. 
     
     
         33 . A distillation unit as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said heating means comprises an oil bath surrounding said distillation zone and heating means for heating said oil bath to a sufficient temperature to cause distillation of solvent from said contaminated solvent feed. 
     
     
         34 . A distillation unit as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said heating means comprises an immersion heater extending into said distillation zone for heating said contaminated solvent feed to a sufficient temperature to cause distillation of solvent from said contaminated solvent feed. 
     
     
         35 . A distillation unit according to  claim 32  further including vacuum means in fluid communication with said distillation vessel for drawing fluid into the distillation vessel. 
     
     
         36 . A distillation unit according to  claim 32  including a solvent container having a bottom and conduit means adapted to transfer fluid from the solvent container to the distillation vessel, the conduit means having an inlet located at a position spaced apart from the solvent container bottom so as to draw in fluid solvent from a position located above the solvent container bottom.