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Status
Electronic Resource
Call number
Publication
DOE SF 11945 1; Report; December 1984.
Language
Library's review
ABSTRACT:
Millions of tons of hazardous wastes are produced each year in the United States. Of these wastes, some are recycled or destroyed, while others are stored for subsequent disposal. The stored wastes are a hazard due to their potential for discharge into the environment. For many toxic
Millions of tons of hazardous wastes are produced each year in the United States. Of these wastes, some are recycled or destroyed, while others are stored for subsequent disposal. The stored wastes are a hazard due to their potential for discharge into the environment. For many toxic
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organic wastes, detoxification using solar energy is a liable means for eliminating the environmental risks. In addition, it offers the potential for being more efficient and cost effective than the currently preferred method of disposal, incineration using fossil fuels. This Phase 1 program provides an approach to the destruction of hazardous industrial wastes using solar energy. The approach makes use of both the photoreduction energy and thermal aspects of solar energy to destroy highly toxic hazardous wastes. This ultraviolet (UV) light energy is available in addition to the thermal energy in the detoxification process. The Phase 1 program has established poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) as the candidate material for the detoxification process due to their highly toxic nature and the large quantities which require disposal. The chlorine-carbon bonds that exist is PCBs are susceptible to photolytic reduction from intense solar flux in the UV range. During Phase 1, the feasibility of the concept was verified through an extensive literature search on photochemical effects. This search identified that the combined aspects of concentrated solar energy, photoreduction and thermal, could supply the required detoxification. Solar test facilities were also evaluated during this phase. In addition, candidate test materials were determined for a test burn using a photolytic detoxifier concept also established during Phase 1. For the Phase 1 workscope the Babcock & Wilcox Company assembled a team including Veda, Inc. and Woodward-Clyde Consultants. This team provided the project with a broad and diverse experience base in hazardous waste ~ destruction, chemical and environmental engineering, -optical analysis, and design and fabrication of solar thermal plant components and systems. Show Less