Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE)
EPA/540/A5-91/007
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Retech, Inc., Plasma Centrifugal
Furnace Applications Analysis Report This document is an evaluation of the performance of the Retech, Inc. Plasma Centrifugal Furnace (PCF) and its applicability as a treatment for soils contaminated with organic and/or inorganic compounds. Both the technical and economic aspects of the technology were examined. A demonstration of the Retech furnace was conducted under the SITE Program at the Department of Energy's Component Development and Integration Facility in Butte, MT. Operational data, along with sampling and analysis information, were carefully compiled to establish a data b ase against which other available data, as well as the vendor's claims for the technology, have been compared and evaluated. Conclusions concerning the technology's suitability for use in immobilizing contaminants in the feed soil were reached, and extrapolations regarding applications at other sites with different contaminants and soil types were made. The following were derived mainly from the results of the Demonstration Tests and supported by other available data: (1) the treated soil did not leach any RCRA metals at levels above the regulatory limits; (2) the process achieved a Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE) of greater than 99.99% for the Principal Organic Hazardous Constituent (POHC), hexachlorobenzene; (3) the air pollution control system did not reduce the level of particulate emissions to below the RCRA limit; (4) a high percentage of the metals fed to the furnace are encapsulated in the treated soil; (5) the PCF is advantageous over conventional incineration technologies in that it can successfully immobilize heavy metals in the slag. Contact |