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Title: Method of operating a centrifugal plasma arc furnace

Abstract

A centrifugal plasma arc furnace is used to vitrify contaminated soils and other waste materials. An assessment of the characteristics of the waste is performed prior to introducing the waste into the furnace. Based on the assessment, a predetermined amount of iron is added to each batch of waste. The waste is melted in an oxidizing atmosphere into a slag. The added iron is oxidized into Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4. Time of exposure to oxygen is controlled so that the iron does not oxidize into Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3. Slag in the furnace remains relatively non-viscous and consequently it pours out of the furnace readily. Cooled and solidified slag produced by the furnace is very resistant to groundwater leaching. The slag can be safely buried in the earth without fear of contaminating groundwater.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [1]
+ Show Inventor Affiliations
  1. Butte, MT
  2. (Butte, MT)
  3. Ramsey, MT
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
MSE INC
OSTI Identifier:
871439
Patent Number(s):
5731564
Assignee:
MSE, Inc. (Butte, MT)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03B - MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03C - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUS ENAMELS
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DOE Contract Number:  
AC22-88ID12735
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; operating; centrifugal; plasma; furnace; vitrify; contaminated; soils; waste; materials; assessment; characteristics; performed; prior; introducing; based; predetermined; amount; iron; added; batch; melted; oxidizing; atmosphere; slag; oxidized; time; exposure; oxygen; controlled; oxidize; remains; relatively; non-viscous; consequently; pours; readily; cooled; solidified; produced; resistant; groundwater; leaching; safely; buried; earth; fear; contaminating; contaminated soils; solidified slag; contaminated soil; waste material; waste materials; predetermined amount; oxidizing atmosphere; remains relatively; centrifugal plasma; performed prior; formed prior; vitrify contaminated; water leaching; /219/75/110/373/588/

Citation Formats

Kujawa, Stephan T, Battleson, Daniel M, Rademacher, Jr., Edward L., Cashell, Patrick V, Filius, Krag D, Flannery, Philip A, and Whitworth, Clarence G. Method of operating a centrifugal plasma arc furnace. United States: N. p., 1998. Web.
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Kujawa, Stephan T, Battleson, Daniel M, Rademacher, Jr., Edward L., Cashell, Patrick V, Filius, Krag D, Flannery, Philip A, & Whitworth, Clarence G. Method of operating a centrifugal plasma arc furnace. United States.
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Kujawa, Stephan T, Battleson, Daniel M, Rademacher, Jr., Edward L., Cashell, Patrick V, Filius, Krag D, Flannery, Philip A, and Whitworth, Clarence G. Thu . "Method of operating a centrifugal plasma arc furnace". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871439.
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@article{osti_871439,
title = {Method of operating a centrifugal plasma arc furnace},
author = {Kujawa, Stephan T and Battleson, Daniel M and Rademacher, Jr., Edward L. and Cashell, Patrick V and Filius, Krag D and Flannery, Philip A and Whitworth, Clarence G},
abstractNote = {A centrifugal plasma arc furnace is used to vitrify contaminated soils and other waste materials. An assessment of the characteristics of the waste is performed prior to introducing the waste into the furnace. Based on the assessment, a predetermined amount of iron is added to each batch of waste. The waste is melted in an oxidizing atmosphere into a slag. The added iron is oxidized into Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4. Time of exposure to oxygen is controlled so that the iron does not oxidize into Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3. Slag in the furnace remains relatively non-viscous and consequently it pours out of the furnace readily. Cooled and solidified slag produced by the furnace is very resistant to groundwater leaching. The slag can be safely buried in the earth without fear of contaminating groundwater.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}
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