Plasma arc technology comes of age

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Waste Age; (United States)

OSTI ID:6660484

Malloy, M G

Plasma arc technology, developed in the 1950s and used for years in the steel-making industry, is coming into its own around the world as a waste treatment technology. The first applications of the technology as a waste-treatment method, both in the US and abroad, are falling into specialized, higher-priced waste niches such as medical waste and asbestos treatment. For economic reasons, using the technology on these streams currently makes more sense than trying to apply it, for example, to treating the general municipal solid waste (MSW) stream. Commercial applications of asbestos treatment in France and MSW incinerator ash vitrification in Japan are new in the past few years. Plasma technology is being developed or utilized in Japan, Russia, Europe, and South America, as well. In the US, plasma technology applications are being developed and targeted to treat hazardous wastes, outmoded military munitions, and to reduce the volume of low-level radioactive wastes, a continuing problem. Plasma applications also are being undertaken in medical waste and asbestos treatment, while vitrifying ash from MSW combustors is picking up because of various countries' regulations and concerns over the availability of landfill space and the toxicity of incinerator ash.

• OSTI ID: 6660484
• Journal Information: Waste Age; (United States), Journal Name: Waste Age; (United States) Vol. 26:2; ISSN WAGEAE; ISSN 0043-1001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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