Future of plasma treatment of wastes

Summary form only given. In the last three or four decades, then has been a growing awareness of the potentially devastating effects of toxic wastes (both chemically hazardous and radioactive) on the environment. This is particularly true in the highly industrialized countries. These toxic wastes may be derived from industrial process streams, sewage and trash (generally chemically hazardous waste), or from nuclear power production or production of nuclear materials for defence purposes (radioactive waste). Two types of plasma systems have been extensively examined for waste treatment: plasma arc and plasma torch systems. Use of a plasma torch to achieve temperatures hot enough to treat waste materials is a relatively new concept. Although extensively studied in the US by the Department of Energy, plasma torch systems have not seen significant use for radioactive wastes. However, plasma torch systems are being used for treatment of waste streams in other countries, particularly in Japan.