Alternative Technologies for Hazardous Waste Treatment

1. Alternative Technologies for Hazardous Waste Treatment (i.e. Alternatives outwith the most sustainable approach - to eliminate the production of hazardous wastes by changing industrial processes and eliminating the manufacture and use of organochlorines AND beyond incineration or landfill ………) • Medium temperature anaerobic decomposition: uses thermal means to destroy organochlorines and other volatile organic compounds without possibility of producing dioxin. Seems effective for PCB and other decontamination. • Solvated Electron Technology (SET): uses electron-activated anhydrous (dry) ammonia to decompose the waste materials. The only non-heat technology available for destruction of hazardous wastes, and it is approved by EPA (US). Designed to destroy chemical weapons, PCBs, dioxin, pesticides, CFCs - the worst chemical wastes...

2. Solvated Electron Technology • Process: Individual or mixed wastes are fed into a tank containing inexpensive, commonly used chemicals and are transferred into more environmentally benign substances - without heat or incineration, effluents or dangerous by-products. The solvent used is recycled for the next run. Basic process is common to all applications:- Contaminated Soil, Oil, Other substance + Metallic Sodium + Anhydrous (water free) ammonia - the metallic sodium introduced into the mix dissolves in the ammonia, turning solution blue. In a reaction too fast to measure the toxins are neutralised. Developer: Commodore Applied Technologies, Inc., Ohio • Selected by White House (one of only three environmental technologies) for accelerated development to assist penetration of international markets under its Rapid Commercialisation Initiative (RCI) programme.

3. Solvated Electron Technology (cont’d) • Explanation of Process: As early as 1865 known that a reactive metal (e.g. sodium, calcium or lithium) in anhydrous ammonia - resulting chemical reaction instantly turns colourless liquid a vivid blue. The colour indicates the presence of free electrons eager to link up with any chemical compound ‘hungry’ enough for them. • Importance: Many of the chemicals with craving for electrons are halogenated compounds (those containing chlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine) - includes many of worst chemical wastes, pesticides and chemical warfare agents. The halogenated chemicals fed electrons break into more environmentally benign substances. • Effectiveness: Transformer oil containing 750,000ppm of PCBs reduced PCB level to less than 1ppm. • Potential: PCB stockpiles on global scale are vast (e.g. Brazil 500,000 - 800,000 tons). Under international Chemical Weapons Convention nations must destroy stockpiles of poison gas and other chemical weapons before 2007 (estimated 150,000 tons world-wide).