Activated Metal Treatment System (AMTS) for Paints

PCBs have been shown to cause cancer in animals and to have other adverse effects on immune, reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems. Although the production of PCBs in the United States has been banned since the late 1970s, many surfaces are still coated with PCB-laden paints. The presence of PCBs in paints adds complexity and expense for disposal. Some treatment methods (e.g., use of solvents, physical removal via scraping) are capable of removing PCBs from surfaces, but these technologies create a new waste stream that must be treated. Other methods, like incineration, can destroy the PCBs but destroy the painted structure as well, preventing reuse. To address limitations with traditional abatement methods for PCBs in paints, researchers at NASAs Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the University of Central Florida have developed the Activated Metal Treatment System (AMTS) for Paints. This innovative technology consists of a solvent solution (e.g., ethanol, d-limonene) that contains an activated zero-valent metal. AMTS is first applied to the painted surface either using spray-on techniques or wipe-on techniques. The solution then extracts the PCBs from the paint. The extracted PCBs react with the microscale activated metal and are degraded into benign by-products. This technology can be applied without removing the paint or dismantling the painted structure. In addition, the surface can be reused following treatment. NASA Kennedy Space Center seeks partners interested in the commercial application of the Activated Metal Treatment System (AMTS) for treating polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in paints. NASAs Kennedy Space Center is offering companies licensing or partnering opportunities in the development of this innovative remediation technology. Current physical removal methods are able to strip off PCB containing paint from surfaces (e.g., media blasting); however, these methods typically create a new waste stream that must be treated according to Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)regulation. In contrast, AMTS extracts PCBs and breaks them down into benign by-products while on the structure. Therefore, no additional treatment for PCBs is required. Also, because the treated surface can be reused following application, AMTS has advantages over other methods and often opens up recycling opportunities that would not have been possible prior to AMTS application.