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DMATM: Digestion Material for Asbestos
The Need
Asbestos is dangerous material and the effort to remove the asbestos from the built facilities has become a problem. Current techniques for removing asbestos- containing fireproofing require the construction of air-tight barriers, labor- intensive scraping of the fireproofing, and the installation of new asbestos-free fireproofing. The current techniques also require removing and replacing older material and consume a lot of time for the entire process.
The Technology
The DMATM product is the result of a joint development by W.R. Grace & Co. and Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory. The new technology uses a foamy solution sprayed directly onto asbestos-containing fireproofing. After absorbing into the fireproofing, the foam chemically digests asbestos fibers and dissolves them into harmless minerals. The process is the first to chemically destroy asbestos without first removing the fireproofing.
DMATM is applied at the surface and soaks into the material, penetrating throughout to contact and destroy the chrysotile asbestos contained within. The primary application for DMATM is the digestion of chrysotile asbestos in gypsum-vermiculite fireproofing (e.g. Monokote Type MK-3). DMATM can also destroy chrysotile asbestos contained in other porous materials.
Customized application equipment is used to produce a DMATM foam that is spay-applied to the asbestos-containing substrate. The foam is produced using a compressed-air powered pump and an in-line liquid/air mixer. Foam flows into a dispensing nozzle which is held by the applicator approximately a foot from the target area. Generally, workers applying the foam will work from scaffolding. Several layers of foam are typically applied to obtain the necessary DMATM dosage. This dosage depends upon the thickness and asbestos content of the material being treated.
As the final step in the process, a surface coating can be applied to provide durable, attractive surface for the non-asbestos material remaining in place.
The Benefits
- DMATM treatment of porous materials containing chrysotile produces materials no longer considered asbestos-containing.
- DMATM's unique application process results in virtually no emissions of asbestos fibers, enabling simpler work area preparation for an OSHA Class III activity.
- Monokote MK-3 treated with DMATM can remain in-place, eliminating the need to remove, dispose of and re-apply fireproofing. DMATM can be expected to work similarly with many other materials compositionally similar to MK-3.
- The DMATM process offers an economic option for managing asbestos-containing materials and additional advantages of in-place treatment and project schedule acceleration.
Status
Grace Construction Products has announced the award of the first license for commercial application of its patented Asbestos Digestion product DMATM. The license was granted to LVI Environmental Services Group Inc.(LVI) of New York, NY. This license authorizes LVI to apply DMATM to asbestos-containing fireproofing products on structural steel beams and columns throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
Barriers
More applications of DMATM are still being investigated and approvals for additional building elements, other than structural steel beams and columns, and different types of fireproofing have not been obtained yet.
Points of Contact
- Roger Milton, W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn., 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044 Phone:(410) 531-4471 Email: Roger.Milton@grace.com
- Burton T. Fried, LVI Environmental Services Inc., Phone: 1 (888) LVI CORP, ext. 661, Email: lvicorp@aol.com.
Refrences
- Asbestos Abatement, LVI Environmental Service Inc.,
- DMATM: Digestion Material for Asbestos, Product Information Sheet, Grace Construction Products
- Foam Degrader Hits the Market, ENR, July 13, 1998.
- Grace and Brookhaven National Laboratory Announce New Asbestos Destroying Product , News Release, Grace Construction Products
- Grace Announces First Licensee for Commercial Application of It's New Asbestos Treatment Product (DMATM), News Release, Grace Construction Products
Disclaimer Statement
Neither the Construction Industry Institute nor Purdue University in any way endorses this technology or represents that the information presented can be relied upon without further investigation.