RECOVERY FROM WASTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 21 June 1937, Page 8

RECOVERY FROM WASTE

THE EFFICIENT CLEANING OF SMELTING GASES

Both with the object of preventing atmospheric pollution and of avoiding waste of valuable materials, much attenion is being paid in Britain to the cleaning of smoke. From 95 to 98 per

cent, of “wasted” materials from smelting gases are recovered in over 3.000 works supplied with recovery plant by a Birmingham firm. The electrostatic method of recovery, originated by the classical researches of Sir Oliver Lodge (a past Principal of the University of Birmingham), is represented by applications employed in the smelting of tin, zinc, lead, gold, copper and aluminium, and general casting, roasting and sintering. Other main applications include the cleaning of blast furnace and waste, combustion gases and

the prevention of nuisance from cement lime and stone crushing plants.

Through its salvage plants the city of Birmingham recovers from its dustbins each year materials valued at £50,000, Last year 5.110 tons of tinplate. 118 tons of non-ferrous metals. 415-tons of bones, 846 tons of gla'ss, 1.029 tons of rags, and silver worth £ls weic iccovered. From the unsaleable refuse 50.000 tons of clinker were produced and the heat generated by the process was converted into electrical energy, and made 4,000,00 units of electricity.