Measurements of solvent destruction efficiency using a low-frequency plasma torch

Summary form only given, as follows. A small-scale thermal plasma torch has been constructed to determine the feasibility of its use to dispose of hazardous solvent waste such as acetone, trichloroethane and trichloroethylene. The plasma jet is generated using argon and a commercial AC/DC welding supply. The system is operated using torch currents ranging from 50-150 amperes and solvent flow rates ranging from 0-500 ml/hr. Reactive gases such as oxygen and water vapor are added to alter the thermal chemistry occurring in the reaction chamber. The daughter products consist primarily of CO/sub 2/, CO, CH/sub 4/, C/sub 2/H/sub 4/, and C/sub x/H/sub y/ radicals. The relative amounts of the reaction by products are monitored using a residual gas analyzer. Results thus far have demonstrated over 99% destruction of acetone at a flow rate of 100 ml/hr using a torch current of 100 amperes.