Plasma Arc (PLASCON)

Status & POPs application “In-flight” plasma arc PLASCON technology operating commercially since commercial plants operating: 4 commercial 150 kW PLASCON units operating in Australia. 2 units Agricultural Chemical industry, which treat the liquid waste stream from 2,4 D manufacture 4 plants in Japan for PCB destruction 1 plant United Kingdom for fire retardants, ODS POPs application: Pesticides such as HCB, DDT, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Lindane, 2,4 D, PCBs, Dioxins, furans and other compounds such as halons and chemical industry in-process waste streams

12 CO 2 DESTRUCTION OF TYPICAL PCB WASTE PLASMASPECIES FLIGHT TUBE SPECIES DISCHARGEPRODUCTS HEXACHLORO-BIPHENYL 6 O 2 Pyrolysis 12 C atoms 12 O atoms 4 H atoms 6 Cl atoms 12 CO 4 HCl + Cl 2 ClCl Cl ClCl ClCl ClCl 6 NaCl 5 H 2 O 0.5 O 2 Quench 6 NaOH ThermalOxidation

PLASCON TORCH & FLIGHT TUBE Argon Anode Temp’ (C) 10,000 7,500 5,000 2,50012,500DC+ Waste FLIGHT TUBE Cooled Liner DC- Cathode PLASMA

PLASCON Process Flow sheet

PART I - Adaptation Technology – Country A. Performance: 1. Minimum pre-treatment: only treatment gaseous and liquid streams 2. Destruction Efficiency: Pesticides, PCB’s > % Japan: %

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A. Performance: 3. Toxic by-products: Uncontrolled releases: Capacity to treat all POPs: yes 6. Throughput: Quantity [tons/day, l/day] S tandard units: 1-3 tons /day Examples: 5% DDT in 95% solids (lime, talcum powder) Plascon can treat about 20 ton per day after desorbtion. 25 % DDT in 75% Toluene then Plascon can treat 1 ton per day.

PART I: Adaptation Technology - Country A. Performance: 7. Wastes/residuals:  Secondary waste stream volumes: no waste streams, 0.5 Nm3 /h (79% Ar, 18.5 % CO2, 2% CO)  Off gas treatment: none after flare  Complete elimination: yes

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology A. Resource needs: Power requirement: 150 kW plasma torch (POPs) - Total 180 kW Water requirements: Cooling torch 1.4 m3/h Fuel volumes: no fuel Reagents volumes: Ar 15m3/h, O2  0.8 t/t conc waste, 30-60% caustic soda  1.4 t/t conc w Weather tight buildings: yes but ventilated Hazardous waste personnel requirement:--- Sampling requirements/facilities: --- Peer sampling: --- Laboratory requirements: --- Communication systems: --- Number of (un/skilled) personnel required: ---

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology B: Costs for: Operating costs US$ 2/kg pure PCB Installation + commissioning: Site preparation: Energy & Telecom installation: Compliance: Reporting: Run without waste: Run with waste: Decommissioning: Landfilling: Transport residues:

PART II: Adaption Country – Technology C. Impact & D. Risks Discharges to air: Discharges to water: 1m3/h with 50 g NaCl, 5 g Na CO3 Discharges to land: none Risks reagents applied: very few Risks of technology: fully automated PLC controlled Operational risks: E-powered  shut down instantaneously

PART II: Adaption Country Technology E. Constructability & F. Output Ease of installation & construction of plant : Ease of shipping/transit: Ease of operation: Ease of processing: Generated waste (% of input waste): Deposited waste at landfill (% of input waste): Waste quality properties (pH, TCLP)

PLASCON- ODS Unit

Australia plant (for Queensland Government): 200 tonnes of banned pesticides treated after a farm collection campaign.

PCB Contaminated Transformers 3 phase Transformer out of the tank three stripped windings Laminations

PLASCON New UK Unit

On site monitoring Gaschromatograph fitted with a Mass Spectrometer Detector Gaschromatographs fitted with Electro Capture Detectors (ECD) And auto samplers for liquids

Excellent DE Argon use Handles all wastes Easy handling + easy set up Low footprint Liquids or gaseous streams only (liquid <0.5 mm size) Low emissions Simple gas treatment Relative costly to operate Portable High power use Minimum operators Strength’sWeaknesses