Thermal Treatment Technologies: Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is a process that uses heat in an oxygen starved atmosphere to treat wood pulp, paper, plastic and other hydrocarbons like the mountains of discarded tires that clutter hillsides.
Thermal Treatment Technologies: Plasma Arc Technology
Extremely high temperatures are needed to decompose the most persistent, harmful, and even radioactive materials. One solution is the Plasma Arc Torch, which achieves the highest temperatures yet attained for the thermal destruction of waste. The ...
Thermal Treatment Technologies: Hazardous Waste Incinerators
Because most hazardous wastes cannot be landfilled, incineration provides an alternative. Whereas municipal waste incineration must meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act, hazardous waste incineration must comply with the Resource Conservation ...
Thermal Treatment Technologies: Municipal Waste and Reciprocating Grate Systems
One of the thermal treatment technologies that strives to make the best use of time, temperature and turbulence is the reciprocating grate incinerator, used by nearly 250 municipalities.
Introduction to Waste Stream Management: Solid Waste
Improper disposal of hazardous substances removed from both air and water treatment can become solid waste problems. Thermal treatments, like the reciprocating grate incinerator, can be used to eliminate most of the volume of solids. When large am...
Thermal Treatment Technologies: Thermal Destruction
Since ancient times, the burning of waste has been a common practice. Unfortunately, incineration as generally practiced created serious environmental problems. Today, however, thermal treatment technology has demonstrated its ability to reduce bo...
Thermal Treatment Technologies: Wet Air Oxidation
Wet air oxidation is a process in which organic matter in an aqueous solution can be oxidized and release heat, provided that oxygen is present under increasing pressure. With the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, and the requirements that it...
Thermal Treatment Technologies: Risks and Rewards of Thermal Destruction
Thermal destruction of hazardous wastes has much potential, but it has aroused much public concern, as well. Even the best such techniques are only safe and effective when they are controlled and done properly--something that is not always the case.