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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 ………)
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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...
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.
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).