Plasma Arc (PLASCON)

Status & POPs application “In-flight” plasma arc PLASCON technology operating

commercially since 1992. 9 commercial plants operating:

4 commercial 150 kW PLASCON units operating in Australia. 2 units Agricultural Chemical industry, which treat the liquid

waste stream from 2,4 D manufacture 4 plants in Japan for PCB destruction 1 plant United Kingdom for fire retardants, ODS

POPs application:Pesticides such as HCB, DDT, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Lindane, 2,4 D, PCBs, Dioxins, furans and other compounds such as halons and chemical industry in-process waste streams

12 CO12 CO22

DESTRUCTION OF TYPICAL PCB WASTE

PLASMAPLASMASPECIESSPECIES

FLIGHT TUBEFLIGHT TUBESPECIESSPECIES

DISCHARGEDISCHARGEPRODUCTSPRODUCTS

HEXACHLORO-HEXACHLORO-BIPHENYLBIPHENYL

6 O6 O22

PyrolysisPyrolysis

12 C atoms12 C atoms12 O atoms12 O atoms

4 H atoms4 H atoms6 Cl atoms6 Cl atoms

12 CO12 CO

4 HCl + Cl4 HCl + Cl22

ClCl

ClClClClCl

ClClCl

6 NaCl6 NaCl5 H5 H22OO0.5 O0.5 O22

QuenchQuench6 NaOH6 NaOH

ThermalThermalOxidationOxidation

PCB FEED TANK

ARGON STORAGE TANK

OXYGEN STORAGE TANK

PLASMA COOLANT TANK

50% NaOH TANK

POWER SUPPLY DATA ACQUISITION &

PROCESS CONTROL

PACKED COLUMN

PROCESS GAS TO FLARE

IN FLIGHT PLASMA OVERVIEW

PLASCON TORCH & FLIGHT TUBE

ArgonArgon

AnodeAnodeTemp’ (C)Temp’ (C)

10,00010,000

7,5007,500

5,0005,000

2,5002,500

12,50012,500

DC+DC+ WasteWaste

FLIGHT TUBEFLIGHT TUBE

Cooled LinerCooled Liner

DC-DC-

CathodeCathode

PLASMA

PLASCON Process Flow sheet

PART I - Adaptation Technology – Country

A. Performance:

1. Minimum pre-treatment: only treatment gaseous and liquid streams

2. Destruction Efficiency: Pesticides, PCB’s > 99.9999 %Japan: 99.999999 %

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country

A. Performance:

3. Toxic by-products: ---4. Uncontrolled releases: ---5. Capacity to treat all POPs: yes6. Throughput: Quantity [tons/day, l/day]

Standard units: 1-3 tons /dayExamples:5% DDT in 95% solids (lime, talcum powder) Plascon can treat about 20 ton per day after desorbtion. 25 % DDT in 75% Toluene then Plascon can treat 1 ton per day.

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country

A. Performance:

7. Wastes/residuals: Secondary waste stream volumes:

no waste streams, 0.5 Nm3 /h (79% Ar, 18.5 % CO2, 2% CO)

Off gas treatment: none after flare

Complete elimination: yes

PART II: Adaption Country – TechnologyA. Resource needs: Power requirement:

150 kW plasma torch (POPs) - Total 180 kW Water requirements:

Cooling torch 1.4 m3/h Fuel volumes:

no fuel Reagents volumes:

Ar 15m3/h, O20.8 t/t conc waste, 30-60% caustic soda 1.4 t/t conc w Weather tight buildings:

yes but ventilated Hazardous waste personnel requirement:--- Sampling requirements/facilities: --- Peer sampling: --- Laboratory requirements: --- Communication systems: --- Number of (un/skilled) personnel required: ---

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology

B: Costs for: Operating costs US$ 2/kg pure PCB

Installation + commissioning: Site preparation: Energy & Telecom installation: Compliance: Reporting: Run without waste: Run with waste: Decommissioning: Landfilling: Transport residues:

PART II: Adaption Country – TechnologyC. Impact & D. Risks Discharges to air: Discharges to water:

1m3/h with 50 g NaCl, 5 g Na CO3 Discharges to land:

none Risks reagents applied:

very few Risks of technology:

fully automated PLC controlled Operational risks:

E-powered shut down instantaneously

PART II: Adaption Country Technology

E. Constructability & F. Output Ease of installation & construction of plant : Ease of shipping/transit: Ease of operation: Ease of processing: Generated waste (% of input waste): Deposited waste at landfill (% of input waste):

Waste quality properties (pH, TCLP)

PLASCON- ODS Unit

Australia plant (for Queensland Government): 200 tonnes of banned pesticides treated after a farm collection campaign.

PCB Contaminated Transformers 

3 phase Transformer out of the tank

three stripped windings

Laminations

PLASCON New UK Unit

On site monitoring

Gaschromatograph fitted with a Mass Spectrometer Detector

Gaschromatographs fitted with Electro Capture Detectors (ECD)And auto samplers for liquids

Excellent DE Argon useHandles all wastesEasy handling + easy set upLow footprint

Liquids or gaseous streams only(liquid <0.5 mm size)

Low emissionsSimple gas treatment

Relative costly to operate

Portable High power useMinimum operators

Strength’s Weaknesses