The results of investigations of thermal reclamation of spent moulding sands originating from an aluminum alloy foundry plant are

presented in this paper. Spent sands were crushed by using two methods. Mechanical fragmentation of spent sand chunks was realized in

the vibratory reclaimer REGMAS. The crushing process in the mechanical device was performed either with or without additional

crushing-grinding elements. The reclaimed material obtained in this way was subjected to thermal reclamations at two different

temperatures. It was found that a significant binder gathering on grain surfaces favors its spontaneous burning, even in the case when

a temperature lower than required for the efficient thermal reclamation of furan binders is applied in the thermal reclaimer. The burning

process, initiated by gas burners in the reclaimer chamber, generates favorable conditions for self-burning (at a determined amount of

organic binders on grain surfaces). This process is spontaneously sustained and decreases the demand for gas. However, due to the

significant amount of binder, this process is longer than in the case of reclaiming moulding sand prepared with fresh components.

In this article, there were presented results of research on influence of reclamation process on the ecological quality of reclaim sand with furan resin used in nonferrous foundry. The quality of reclaimed sand is mainly define by two group of chemical substances from elution of reclaimed sand: Dissolves Organic Carbon (DOC) and Total Dissolves Solids (TDS). Reclaimed sand used in test was prepared in experimental thermal reclaimer and mechanical vibration reclaimer REGMAS installed in Faculty of Foundry Engineering at University of Science and Technology in Krakow. The reference point is molding sand shaking out and crumble in jaw crusher. Test of elution was made in acreditation laboratory in Center For Research and Environmental Control in Katowice up to the standard with Dissolves Organic Carbon (DOC) - PN-EN 1484:1999; Total Dissolves Solids (TDS) - PN-EN 15216:2010. The standard for elution test is PN-EN 12457- 4:2006. Except that we were made loss of ignition test, to check how many resin was rest on sand grains.

The investigation results of the mechanical reclamation of spent moulding sands from the Cordis technology are presented in the paper.

The quality assessment of the obtained reclaim and the influence of the reclaim fraction in a matrix on the core sand strength is given. The

reclaim quality assessment was performed on the basis of the determination of losses on ignition, Na2O content on reclaim grains and pH

values. The reclaim constituted 100%, 75% and 50% of the core sand matrix, for which the bending strength was determined. The matrix

reclamation treatment was performed in the experimental rotor reclaimer RD-6. Spent sands were applied in as-delivered condition and

after the heating to a temperature of 140 o

C. Shaped samples for strength tests were made by shooting and hardening of sands in the warmbox

technology.