title: Analysis of results from the operation of a pilot plasma gasification/vitrification unit for optimizing its performance.
abstract: Plasma gasification/vitrification is an innovative and environmentally friendly method of waste treatment. A demonstration plasma gasification/vitrification unit was developed and installed in Viotia region in order to examine the efficiency of this innovative technology in dealing with hazardous waste. The preliminary results from the trial runs of the plasma unit, as well as the study of the influence of certain parameters in the system performance are presented and analyzed in this paper, contributing to the improvement of the operation performance. Finally, data on the final air emissions and the vitrified ash toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) results are provided in order to assess the environmental performance of the system. The produced slag was found to be characterized by extremely low leaching properties and can be utilized as construction material, while the values of the polluting parameters of the air emissions were satisfactory.
authors.affiliation: National Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering, Unit of Environmental Science and Technology, 9, Heroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou Campus, 15773 Athens, Greece. konmoust@central.ntua.gr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moustakas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xydis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malamis
authors.forename: K-J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Haralambous
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loizidou
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D003252:Construction Materials; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases; D006108:Graphite; D017745:Incineration; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014867:Water; D006108:Graphite; D010100:Oxygen