Plasma pyrolysis of toxic waste

Abstract

The comparison of technical economic indexes of different waste treatment methods and plasma pyrolysis is presented in the paper. It testifies that plasma technologies are economically expedient for these purposes. Physical prerequisites allowing realizing plasma technologies are presented. Reliable and economical (70–120 Euro per ton of treated product) plasma generation is the basic condition of the technology realization. In this connection, various types of powerful generators of dense plasma (plasmatrons) in the range from 100 kW to 3 MW and temperature of plasma jets from 2000 to 10 000 K, and also physical processes taking place in electric-discharge chambers are examined. Differences between AC and DC electric arc plasma generators are analysed. Temperature in arcs of plasma generators varies from 6000 to 20 000 K, electron concentration is ne∼(1014–1019 cm−3). Specific ware of electrodes in various types of plasma generators intended for long-time operation modes is (10−7–10−4) g C−1. Physicochemical processes in plasma reactors intended for waste treatment and pyrolysis are described.Different types of technological processes on plasma treatment and pyrolysis of waste are analysed. Estimation of present situation of physical investigations and technological developments in this area and predictions for nearest future are included.This article was scheduled to appear in issue 5 of Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion. To access this Special issue please follow this link: http://www.iop.org/EJ/toc/0741-3335/45/5