Claims
- 1. A method of encapsulating mixed waste comprising mixing a thermoplastic polymer having a melting temperature less than about 150.degree. C. and elemental sulfur and mixed waste at an elevated temperature not greater than about 200.degree. C., mixing for a time sufficient to intimately mix the constituents, and thereafter cooling to a solid.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer includes a polyolefin.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is principally low density polyethylene.
- 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is less than about 10% by weight of the sulfur present.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sulfur is present in the range of from about 90% to about 98% by weight of the combination of sulfur and thermoplastic resin.
- 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the constituents are heated to an elevated temperature about 160.degree. C.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is essentially polyethylene present in an amount about 5% by weight of the sulfur present, and mixed waste is present in the range up to about 40% by weight of the solid encapsulated waste.
- 8. A composition of matter, comprising a thermoplastic polymer having a melting temperature of less than about 150.degree. C., elemental sulfur and mixed waste wherein the polymer is present in the range of from about 2% to about 10% by weight of the sulfur and the mixed waste is present up to about 40% by weight of the combination of sulfur and polymer.
- 9. The composition of matter of claim 8, wherein the thermoplastic polymer includes one or more of LDPE, HDPE, polystyrene, polypropylene and PVC.
- 10. The composition of matter of claim 9, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is principally LDPE.
- 11. The composition of matter of claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is present in the amount of about 5% by weight of the sulfur present.
CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DE-AC07-76ID01570 between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and EG&G Idaho Inc.
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