Process for chemical/thermal treatment without toxic emissions

Abstract

An apparatus and process for chemically and/or thermally treating substances containing or generating toxic substances during treatment is disclosed. Multiple reactors treat the material while the toxic emission containment system separates and cleans the effluents to within acceptable emissions limits as specified by government. The preferred rotary kiln employs a multiple zone reactor system for processing and volumetrically reducing feedstocks. The kiln functions as a primary treatment chamber and contains a rotatable multipurpose admixture and a multiple zone burner system. Induced cyclonic action reduces particulate entrainment, minimizes stratification, and maximizes gas residence time. A direct fed, second stage vitrifying, refining and/or separating furnace yields stabilized products. The preferred process includes an air pollution control system enhanced by a toxic emission containment system which separates the inert effluents from the toxic emissions contained in the treatment process. The toxic emissions are contained, recycled for further treatment or rendered inert. Whenever coolants are inserted directly into the process to lower treatment temperatures, off-gas recycle is used to minimize the quantities to be cleaned. When combustion is an integral part of the thermal treatment process, enriched oxygen is used to displace the nitrogen in the combustion air to reduce the quantities of toxic emissions generated and the quantities of off-gas to be treated downstream of the air pollution control system. Unused admixtures, solid, liquid and gaseous by-products can be isolated.