Dioxins

[slester@essential.org]

Date: Sat, 27 Jan 96 16:12:22 UT
From: Emmanuel de Broux <EMM_DE_BROUX@msn.com>
To: CCHW@essential.org
Subject: Dioxins

Hi ! This message comes from Belgium, a densely populated small country tucked 
between Holland and France - capital Brussels.

Belgium has also to face the problem of dioxins and related substances spewed 
by many solis household waste incinerators. There is a project of building a 
new one 2 miles upwind from where I live.

Local activists and myself have done almost everything we could to fight the 
project, including aggressive lawsuits.

We have also searched for other means of treating our waste. It seems that we 
have found THE solution, devised by an American citizen living in Belgium, 
Paul Olivier.

The solution comes in successive steps :

1. Waste is sorted as much as feasible before being dumped in the waste bin. 
This step is not mandatory but it helps.

2. Waste is ground to very fine particles by a hammer grinder or crusher.

3. Particules are sorted by different means : air blow, magnets, flotation at 
different densities. Ferrous metalic particles are sold back to the industry. 
The mix of non-ferrous metalic particles is sold to the industry.

4. Organic waste is distilled - they say "thermolysed" - at about 550 degree 
C. Lime is added to the waste. What comes out of the thermolysor is :

- Combustible gas which must be burned at about 300 degree C to avoid 
condensation of petroleum-like liquids it contains. This gas is not polluted 
by heavy metals or dioxins.

- Active carbon which traps all heavy metals.

- Halogenes turned into acids which are neutralised by the lime, giving salts 
which are diluted in the water quenching the hot carbon. Salts are sold to the 
industry.

- Some neutral cinder.

The purity of the combustible gas is explained by the fact that it must go 
through about 10 feet of active carbon.

Active carbon can be used as fuel in cement kilns. Heavy metals link to cement 
powder.
If need be, cinder along with silicium oxides and heavy metals can be 
vitrified into a sort of heavy black material looking much like obsidian. That 
black 'stone' can be sawed, cut and polished, and then be sold as construction 
material.

Question : have you heard about this process in the States ?

The grinding technology is well known. The thermolysis technology seems to be 
known. Putting these two technologies to work together has not yet been done 
in Europe.

Your comments will be most welcome.

Emmanuel H. de Broux
rue du Sacre-Coeur 7
B-5590 LEIGNON, Belgium
Fax : + 32 83 212 213