Risks generated by the treatment of aerosol in the recycling of metals : how to secure the process ?

Agnès Janes (1) , Fabrice Malet (1) , V. Herrenschmidt-Munoz (2)

1 INERIS - Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques
2 Eco-Emballages

Aerosols consumed at home are supported in France in the recycling of aluminum or steel household waste stream. This process requires storage and crushing in a press, the latter operation leading as indirect consequence in random perforation of aerosols. As aerosols include flammable gaseous, liquid or liquefied chemical compounds, this process can induce fire and explosion hazards. Such incidents have been reported by many waste sorting plants in France. This work analyses potential of hazard associated to full or empty aerosols recycling. Three types of hazardous scenarios have been identified: 1) an ignition of an explosive atmosphere, 2) a BLEVE occurrence and 3) a liquid pool fire. In each case, the potential effects have been quantified. Then, technical and organizational solutions are proposed to prevent these fires and explosions and to protect waste sorting plants, regarding hazards associated to the treatment of aerosols.

Keywords: METAL WASTE RECYCLING; AEROSOLS; FIRE HAZARD; EXPLOSION HAZARD

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]

Agnès Janes, Fabrice Malet, V. Herrenschmidt-Munoz. Risks generated by the treatment of aerosol in the recycling of metals : how to secure the process ?. 3. International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning and Economics (CEMEPE 2011) & SECOTOX Conference, Jun 2011, Skiathos, Greece. pp.391-395. ⟨ineris-00973619⟩