Study on the Detoxification of Asbestos-Containing Wastes (ACW) Using SiC Plate

Abstract

Even asbestos-containing waste (ACW) are highly harmful to humans, it continues being produced due to the massive disposal of asbestos-containing products. A development of asbestos detoxification and recycling technologies is required. Heat treatment using microwave is the most efficient method for ACW detoxification. However, microwave heat treatment method has the limitation that asbestos does not absorb microwave at room temperature. That is why, in this study, ACW was detoxified by microwave heat treatment adding the ACW between SiC plates, which are inorganic heating elements that absorb microwaves at room temperature. In order to improove the heat transfer, ACW was crushed and pulverized and then heated using microwave. Microwave heat treatment temperature and time variables were adjusted to investigate the detoxification properties according to heat treatment conditions. After heat treatment, treated ACW was analyzed for detoxification properties through crystal structure and microstructure analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microwave heat treatment method using SiC plate can be heated up to the target temperature within a short time. Finally, complete asbestos detoxification was confirmed from the crystal structure and the microstructure when the microwave heat treatment was performed at 1,200°C for at over 60 minutes and at 1,300°C for at over 10 minutes.