Document dEdkmbnk0vvkB4LM611eNKBR

wuri3 Of x^7o CC: w. m. Retkofsky - Photo Prod. - Glasgow **D. J. Lowe - PP&R - Sabine *J. B. Dew - PP&R - D-12190 *R. M. Shepherd - PP&R - D-12C19 **T. M. Kemp - PP&R - PD #2 J. C. Bond - PP&R - PD #2 *C. A. Seibert, Jr. - Design **B. T. Robbins - Design G. F. Moore - Design ___ -M&. v. Hallman - Design R. S. Pease - ESD G. N. VanderWerff - ESD IC 13/OEC TO: **K. C. S2VARD - DESIGN FROM: **K. FERNANDES - ESD PROJECT 4357 - SA3IKS - CARGO CAIRE UNIT - ASBESTOS STUD*/ OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL **, * Persons attending May 2, 1978 meeting at Louviers ** Persons inspecting Cargo Caire Systems at Glasgow 5/5/73 At your request, I participated in a study to evaluate the potential for contamination of Polyethylene and Surlyn pellets with asbestos fibers from the dehumidifier provided in the above project and to recommend what if any changes should be made to the dehumidification system to avoid contaminationof the products which will be used in making film for packaging foods and drugs. Discussion Project 4857 provides a solid desiccant dehumidification system that dries 21,000 fm of air which is used to pneumatically convey Polyethylene and Surlyn pellets and to purge undesirable residual gas from these products in their storage silos. The heart of the dehuaidifier is s slowly rotating, 8 ft. diameter x 16" thick wheel to which the process air transfers its moisture as it passas through the honeycomb structure of the wheel, with the system about ready to start-up, Du Pont learned for the first time (approximately 30 units are in Company service) that the wheel is made of asbestos paper. This, of course, was disturbing and resulted in a visit in April by you and Sabine personnel to Cargocaire Engineering Corp., the manufacturer of this equipment ir. Hew Hampshire. On May 2, 1973, the * and ** personnel met at Louviers to discuss the problem. I displayed a sample of the wheel which indicated that the asbestos was completely encapsulated or locked-in as the vendor claims. I then presented information DUP 1121224 DU 055807 3 June 8, 1978 M. C. Seward 3. Avoid rushing to buy, as a replacement, the first of the non-asbestos containing wheels that Cargocaire Co. is trying to develop and hopes to have available in large sizes in to 12 months. This is an excellent and proven engineering concept for dehumidification to low dewpoints and 1 would allow say two years for any new type wheel to prove itself in service before switching to it. 4. Advise other plant users of Cargocaire units (Exhibit E) about the asbestos wheel as suggested by D. W. Hallman. These plants should sample their systems for asbestos to further confirm our findings and to provide themselves with a record of their awareness of the matter. If you have any questions or want me to proceed any further than I have with this problem, please call me. HF/egs Attachments DUP 1121225 DU 055808