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"Froth flotation" may sound like a new drink at the neighborhood coffee shop, but it's actually a new tool for saving landfill space and recovering useful plastics from scrapped autos and appliances.
An Argonne process based on "froth flotation" provides for the first time an industrial-scale method for separating plastics of equivalent density, making it possible to recover high-value materials from mixed plastics.
And now, in a joint project, researchers have returned the recycled plastic to automobiles, by successfully molding headlamp "back-cans" from recycled plastic material.
Argonne developed the process to separate two common forms of plastic material -- acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) -- in waste from auto and appliance recycling. The process, now being pilot-tested, could unlock many valuable sources of plastic. For example, 570 million pounds of ABS and HIPS go to landfills annually in waste from auto and appliance recycling.
The project was performed by researchers from Argonne, the Vehicle Recycling Partnership, the American Plastics Council and the Appliance Recycling Centers of America. It was the first successful test using 100 percent post-consumer recycled material in an automotive application, according to lead researcher Ed Daniels (ES).
"The injection mold test, using post-consumer ABS, confirms the technical feasibility of reusing this material in automotive applications," said Daniels, who developed the patented process with Jim Karvelas, Sam Jody, Joe Pomykala (all ES), and former employee B. Amran. Other employees who worked on the project include Kris Oswalt, Scott Lockwood and Greg Krumdick (all ES).
One difficulty in "mining" high-value plastics from discarded products is that many plastics have the same physical characteristics and density and so cannot be separated from each other by current production methods. Froth flotation allows two or more equivalent-density plastics to be separated with high purity. The resulting products are of commercial quality and would be priced competitively with virgin materials, Daniels said.
The froth flotation technique modifies the effective density of plastic materials as a basis for separating ABS and HIPS plastics.
Controlling the chemistry of the froth selectively affects the plastics' surface characteristics so small gas bubbles can be attached to one material's surface, making it less dense than the other plastic. In solution, the plastic with the bubble attached will float while the other plastics sink.
Argonne's research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Industrial Technologies.
Argonne's Women in Science and Technology (WIST) steering committee has an opening for a representative from the laboratory's women technical employees.
The group's charter includes recommending a WIST program initiator to lead the laboratory's efforts to recruit, retain and promote women. The committee also provides guidance during the initiator's two-year term and evaluates the WIST program's effectiveness.
Interested regular, full-time employees should send a resume to steering committee chairperson Joe Asbury (OTD) by Friday, June 4. Members about to rotate off the committee and former members may apply.
Argonne's "Web Mavens" are getting together to network, discuss Internet-related issues and share information.
At the group's first meeting, topics included software tools, security and Web-related copyright issues.
ITD maintains a Web Mavens Web site. Information about designing, creating, and managing Web sites is available via a mailing list, which also provides a forum for questions about Argonne's Web pages.
To be added to the Web Mavens mailing list, contact Shari Zussman (ITD) at ext, 2-5936, or send e-mail tozussman@anl.gov.
Argonne Guest House Chef Chris Kaminsky will present a class on preparing grilled summer salads on Monday, June 7, and Thursday, June 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Guest House at Argonne-East.
Chef Chris will prepare warm salmon on cucumber salad, chicken breast with grilled pineapple salad, flank steak salad and Thai marinated pork tenderloin with buckwheat noodles. Participants will sample the results.
Registration deadline is Friday, June 4, for the June 7 class and Wednesday, June 9, for the June 10 class. Cost is $20. For more information, call ext. 5-2006 and ask for Kathy.
Representatives of the laboratory's retirement vendors will visit Argonne-East to meet with employees and answer questions about retirement plans and retirement assets. For an appointment, call the number listed. Prudential appointments are for one-half hour each.
| Vendor | Day | For appointments, call: |
| Prudential | Wednesday, June 2, 9, 16 | Cheryl
(847) 619-3519 |
| Fidelity | Tuesday, June 8, 15 | Appointment Desk
(800) 642-7131 |
| TIAA-CREFF | Tuesday, June 22,
Wednesday, June 23 |
(800) 842-2005 |
Quality hardcover books will be available at up to 70 percent off at a book sale in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria lobby on Thursday, June 3.
Sponsored by Sodexho Marriott, the sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cash, checks and credit cards are welcome.
Office computer software will be the subject of several classes offered in June by Electronics and Computing Technologies.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will be held in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142, are limited to eight participants and cost $135. Class schedules and complete information are available online at http://www.anl.gov/ECT/courses/.
For information about enrollment procedures, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or send e-mail todkcavazos@anl.gov.
Beginning Unix (ECT564) — This class consists
of two three-hour sessions for a total of six
hours. First session: Tuesday, June 1, 9 a.m.
- noon. Second session: Thursday, June 3, 9
a.m. - noon. Class size limited to seven. Cost:
$245.
Introduction to Windows 95 (ECT300) —
Tuesday, June 8, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Word 97 Mail Merge (ECT354) — Tuesday, June 8,
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Basic Excel 97 Skills (ECT340) — Wednesday,
June 9, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Intermediate PowerPoint 97 (ECT343) —
Wednesday, June 9, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Intermediate Access Version 97 (ECT333) —
Thursday, June 10, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $195.
Microsoft FrontPage 98 (ECT331) — This is a
two-day class. First session: Monday, June 14,
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Second session: Tuesday, June 15,
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Minimum class
size eight, maximum 12. Cost: $495.
Excel 97: Organizational Tools (ECT350) —
Tuesday, June 15, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Excel 97: Database Management (ECT361) —
Tuesday, June 15, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Excel 97: Improving Worksheet Appearance (ECT341)
— Wednesday, June 16, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30
a.m.
Advanced PowerPoint 97 (ECT360) — Wednesday,
June 16, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Advanced Access 97 (ECT334) — Thursday, June 17,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $195.00
Visual Basic for Access 97 (ECT344) — Friday, June 18,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $195.
Human Resources will offer several classes in workplace topics and skills during April.
For complete class descriptions, see the Human Resources Web page and follow the links for "HR Departments" and "Performance Development" or see "Education and Training" on the Argonne Intranet.
To enroll, contact a Training Management System representative.
Introduction to Team Building for New Supervisors
(HR631) — Introduces participants to
collaborative strategies and skills for one-on-one
and team relationships. Wednesday, June 2, 8:30
a.m. - 3:30 p.m. in Building 201, Room 274.
Sharpening Your Business Writing Skills (HR325) —Focuses
on writing effective and concise business
documents that gain attention and get results.
Wednesdays and Fridays, June 2 - July 2, from
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Building 201, Room 238. Cost
is $210.
Presentation Excellence (HR532) —Teaches a
system of presentation design that will provide
employees with the ability to organize data and
thoughts in a targeted message. The class will be
held on Thursday and Friday, June 10-11, from 8:30
a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Freund Lodge. (Note location
change.)
Leadership & Motivation (HR641) —
Designed to help participants develop an
understanding of leadership and learn how to
encourage employee motivation. Wednesday, June 16,
from noon - 5 p.m. in Building 201, Room 274.
The Brown Bag Lunch Seminar: Successful
Self-Management (HR237) — A logical five-step
plan can lead to improvements in personal
productivity, accomplishments and satisfaction.
Wednesday, June 30, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. in
Building 201, Room 238.
Preventing Sexual Harassment for Non-Supervisors
(HR137) — Definitions and courses of action
for those who may be a target of such behavior.
Monday, June 14, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in Building
201, Room 190.
CPS Review: Financial Principles (HR554) —
Prepares secretaries and administrative assistants
for the financial principles section of the
Certified Professional Secretaries exam. June 8 -
July 15, from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Building 201,
Room 238.
The Argonne Pool will open for the summer Monday, June 14. The pool schedule and prices will appear in next week's Argonne News.
A service in remembrance of former Argonne Director Robert G. Sachs will be held Sunday, June 6, at 3 p.m. in the Max Palevsky Cinema at the University of Chicago's Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street.
Some nearby streets will be closed on that day due to the 57th Street Art Fair. Closures may include 57th Street between Dorchester and Kimbark, 56th Street between Kimbark and Kenwood, and Kimbark between 56th and 57th streets.
Sachs, University of Chicago physics professor emeritus, helped create Argonne and served as its director from 1973 to 1979. He died April 14 at the age of 82.
More information is available online at http://ars-www. uchicago.edu/physics/.
Weight Watchers will hold a free open house meetings at Argonne-East Tuesday, June 1.
The meetings will be held at noon in Building 200, Room J183.
The at-work program is sponsored by Argonne's Preventive Health and Wellness Program.
The Argonne Information Center will be closed on Saturdays and holidays.
The center's hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Bernard M. Abraham,a retired senior chemist with Material Science and Technology Division died Feb. 22 with 39 years of service. His wife Annabel survives him.
John W. Allen, a retired division safety coordinator in Energy Systems, died April 12 with 34 years of service. His wife Dorothy survives him.
John J. Andrews, a retired instrument machinist with Central Shops, died March 19 with 20 years of service. He is survived by his daughters Doris Urban and Frances Mouhon.
Viola E. Cameron, a retired clerk senior in Plant Operations, died March 14 with 15 years of service. She is survived by her daughter May Sue Cullinan.
Adam Galli, a retired driver with the Supply Division, died March 28, 1998 with 34 years of service. His sisters Elizabeth Kerger and Agnes Thomos survive him.
Dianne Hutchinson-Wray, a retired contract specialist in the Office of Chief Financial Officer, died April 14 with 19 years of service. She is survived by her husband John Wray.
Clarence L. Johnson, a retired engineering assistant in Electronics, died April 16 with 22 years of service. His wife Violet survives him.
Clare J. Kilty, a retired computer operator III in our Computer Science Division, died April 28 with 44 years of service. She is survived by her sister Mary Stranich.
Michael Kostelny, a retired instrument maker in Central Shops, died April 25 with 30 years of service. He is survived by his wife Beatrice.
John Malm,a retired chemist in the Chemistry Division, died May 11 with 37 years of service. He is survived by his wife Marjory.
