Plasma vitrification of municipal solid wastes is an emerging technology with the potential to do great environmental good. Plasma torches have a wide range of potential uses including waste disposal, cleaning up contaminated areas, disposal of diseased animal carcasses, soil stabilization, creating foundations for buildings, and possible creating leak proof storage for harmful materials such as nuclear waste. The plasma vitrification process, besides just destroying unwanted waste, has the added benefits of creating useable byproducts and creating steam and fuel gases such as hydrogen that can be used to generate more electricity than is used to power the torch. In this paper I will examine the technology behind plasma torches, the possible uses for this technology, the potential environmental and societal benefits of utilizing plasma technology (especially in comparison to other forms of waste disposal such as incineration), and the economic and political barriers that must be overcome to make this technology mainstream. There are several high quality sources on plasma technology and some on its use for waste disposal. Also I will be able to get in touch with key researchers and businessmen involved with the project to get first hand information on this technology.
Posted at Mar 30/2005 09:23 PM:
Peter Saeta: Sounds familiar, somehow, but is a worthy topic for further exploration and exposition. I'd like to understand better what happens to the nominally toxic species, such as heavy metals, as well as gases generated in the process.
Plasma Paper.doc
Posted at May 06/2005 04:37 PM:
p80: p80: I'm sorry, but I somehow was thinking all week that friday was the 5th. I realized yesterday that this was in fact not the case however due to typical HMC procrastination style I was no where near ready to turn in my paper what I had thought was a day early. Anyways my paper is finally done, hope this isn't too big of a problem. Sorry, John
Posted at May 06/2005 04:42 PM:
I also decided to attach this powerpoint about using plasma for waste disposal; the guys from Georgia Tech sent it to me to help with my research proposal and report. Which reminds me I forgot to list Dr. Louis Circeo, Sr. Research Advisor Kevin Caravati, and my father John H. Hankinson IV on my references page.
