Thermolysis (fwd)

[slester@essential.org]

Date: Fri, 2 Feb 96 09:48:11 UT
From: Emmanuel de Broux <EMM_DE_BROUX@msn.com>
To: Kaltofen@eworld.com
Cc: erf@rachel.clark.net, slester@essential.org
Subject: Thermolysis

Production of dioxins and furans requires oxygen. Mr. Deveau, a Frenchman who 
designed a thermolysis oven, indicates that oxygen goes first to carbon to 
make CO. We know that there is no dioxin of any sort in the combustible gas 
produced by the process because filtering that gas through about 10 ft of 
activated carbon cleans it completely. At temperatures close to +500 degree C, 
chlorine combines with oxygen to produce chlorhydric acid which is then 
neutralised with lime, says Mr. Deveau. Same thing with the other halogenes. I 
have been assured that there are no detectable dioxins in the activated 
carbon.

What will happen in the near future in Belgium is a close scrutiny of the 
thermolysis process by specialists and constructors of MSW incinerators. Swiss 
von Roll is involved as well as a Belgian company Watco, subsidiary of 
Tractebel SA. Local authorities are involved too. We made them - discover - 
the process by themselves for obvious reasons. European Union is also very 
interested (DG 11). If anything positive comes out of all that, be sure that 
I'll let you know.

Anyway, the process comes as a COMPLEMENT other waste reduction and/or 
recycling programs. European Union imposes these programs. EU also imposes 
severe limits to the creation of new landfills, even for incinerator ashes, 
dust and soot !

Now, I am just a 61 year old Belgian activist trying to neutralize a project 
of building another MSW incinerator in my part of the country. Several other 
projects exist for other parts of Belgium. My position, today, is that I would 
prefer by far to have a separation + thermolysis plant in my neibourhood than 
a MSW incinerator. The difference in pollution terms is so enormous that my 
choice is easy.

But if anyone has a better way of avoiding MSW incineration, I'll be glad to 
listen. Regards.