title: Comparative analysis of polychlorinated biphenyl decomposition processes in air or argon (+oxygen) thermal plasma.
abstract: Thermal plasmas may solve one of the biggest toxic waste disposal problems. The disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is a long standing problem which will get worse in the coming years, when 180000 tons of PCB-containing wastes are expected to accumulate in Europe (Hot ions break down toxic chemicals, New Scientist, 16 April 1987, p. 24.). The combustion of PCBs in ordinary incinerators (at temperature T approximately 1100 K, as measured near the inner wall of the combustion chamber (European Parliament and Council Directive on Incineration of Waste (COM/99/330), Europe energy, 543, Sept. 17, 1999, 1-23.)) can cause more problems than it solves, because highly toxic dioxins and dibenzofurans are formed if the combustion temperature is too low (T<1400 K). The paper presents a thermodynamic consideration and comparative analysis of PCB decomposition processes in air or argon (+oxygen) thermal plasmas.
authors.affiliation: The VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory for Thermal Engineering and Energy, P.O. Box 522, 11001, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: Z G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Kostic
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Stefanovic
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Pavlović
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D001128:Argon / Q000737:chemistry*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017745:Incineration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D001128:Argon; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D010100:Oxygen