Organic compound destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) for plasma incinerator off-gases using an electrically heated secondary combustion chamber

Journal Article · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-053X(98)00134-2· OSTI ID:347638

Whitworth, C G; Babko-Malyi, S; Battleson, D M ^[1]; Olstad, S J ^[2]

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1. MSE Technology Applications, Inc., Butte, MT (United States)
2. Phoenix Solutions Co., Minneapolis, MN (United States)

The US Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored a series pilot-scale plasma incineration tests of simulated mixed wastes at the MSE Technology Applications, Inc. technology development test facility in Butte, MT. One of the objectives of the test series was to assess the ability of an electrically heated afterburner to destroy organic compounds that may be present in the off-gases resulting from plasma incineration of mixed wastes. The anticipated benefit of an electrically heated afterburner was to decrease total off-gas volume by 50% or more, relative to fossil fuel-fired afterburners. For the present test series, feeds of interest to the DOE Mixed Waste Focus Area (MWFA) were processed in a plasma centrifugal furnace while metering selected organic compounds upstream of the electrically heated afterburner. The plasma furnace was equipped with a transferred-mode torch and was operated under oxidizing conditions. Feeds consisted of various mixtures of soil, plastics, portland cement, silicate fines, diesel fuel, and scrap metals. Benzene, chloroform, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane were selected for injection as simulates of organics likely to be present in DOE mixed wastes, and because of their relative rankings on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) thermal stability index. The organic compounds were injected into the off-gas system at a nominal concentration of 2,000 ppmv. The afterburner outlet gas stream was periodically sampled, and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. For the electrically heated afterburner, at operating temperatures of 1,800--1,980 F (982--1,082 C), organic compound destruction and removal efficiencies (DREs) for benzene, chloroform, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane were found to be > 99.99%.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-96EW96405
• OSTI ID: 347638
• Report Number(s): CONF-980513--
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 6-8 Vol. 18; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
BENZENE
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
GASEOUS WASTES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INCINERATORS
OFF-GAS SYSTEMS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
WASTE PROCESSING