Industrial wastes treatment using plasma technology

Abstract

The thermal treatment of waste

using plasma technology allows

the destruction of organic

compounds by pyrolysis or air

controlled process, the recycling

of valuable metals and the

vitrifi cation of the remaining

inorganic material. The new

vitrifi ed products tapped from

the reactor are obtained with

a signifi cant volume reduction

and with good properties to be

reused or stored safely. Plasma

torches can use different gases at

low fl ow; consequently, chemical

reaction inside the reactor can be

controlled, rising high productivity

with small equipment. This

process aims to be an alternative

for materials recycling from

waste, allowing an adequate

solution to waste treatment

problems of industrial countries

and achieving an important

volume reduction of fi nal waste.