Re: plasma arc technology

["Jon Campbell" <jon@cqs.com>]

Jane,

      Are the results in the form of a report that can be posted? The
vendors of these contraptions claim clean burns and no problems. We are
seeing a proliferation of plasma proposals, both here in the US and abroad.
They will probably try to foist them off onto EPA for hazwaste destruction,
and my understanding (after looking at a real stack analysis) is that they
are not much better than the rotary-kiln fiascos.

Thanks
Jon
----- Original Message -----
From: Jane Williams <dcap@qnet.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list DIOXIN-L <dioxin-l@essential.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 1999 10:19 PM
Subject: RE: plasma arc technology


> Dear Colleagues,
>
> The plasma arc just went through demonstration testing for the chemdemil
program--results were that it did produce dioxin and the technology had
problems.  It is out of the running.
>
> Jane Williams
>
> ----------
> From: Jon Campbell[SMTP:jon@cqs.com]
> Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 7:15 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list DIOXIN-L
> Subject: Re: plasma arc technology
>
> 1.26 ppt? Who is kidding who? The Georgia Tech study measured PCBs and
> dioxins coming out in the emissions when destroying PCBs. All that they
were
> claiming was 10**6 hazwaste destruction, and some of the data didn't even
> support that.
>
> Also, in plasma reports they seems to never talk about heavy metals, which
> are present in MSW in fearsome amounts. The orindary Wheelabrator burner
> unit up here in North Andover, MA has emitted upwards of 2000 lbs per year
> of mercury, and 800 lbs a year of lead, just from batteries, fluorescent
> lamps, and electronics tossed into the trash. They don't even count
> super-toxic alpha-emitting Americium-241 from disposed-of smoke detectors,
> which of course would be totally vaporized and emitted by a plasma.
>
> In addition to all else, ordinary burners leave most of the light metals
in
> the ash - iron, steel, copper, aluminum, etc. A plasma would vaporize the
> whole lot. The earth is already under a cloud of copper from the smeltersl
> this would add to the problem tremendously.
>
> In short, this is another "technology" like organochlorines, nuclear
power,
> and genetic engineering of food.  Better left undone.
>
> Jon
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <GCJeffrey@aol.com>
> To: Multiple recipients of list DIOXIN-L <dioxin-l@essential.org>
> Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 1:44 AM
> Subject: plasma arc technology
>
>
> > To: Neal   ntangri@essential.org
> >
> > Some time ago, I talked to the boys
> > at General Atomic in San Diego
> > about Plasma Arc and they had no
> > data showing reduction of dioxins to
> > below 1.26 parts per trillion.
> >
> > That times a safety factor of 1/10
> > or better, is related to the TCDD Dioxin
> > Report.  (Cognitive Deficits)
> >
> >
> > Stop making chlorinated plastics.
> >
> > Existing chlorinated plastics:
> >
> > Microwave
> >
> > Crush & run through a "Living Machine-Solar Aquatics"
> >      natural attenuation system.
> >
> > Add Na and or Ca in sunlight under glass and make salt.
> >
>
>
>