Primary inorganic feedstock material is introduced into the melting region of an SCM melter. The material is heated with a burner to form a turbulent melt matrix. The burner exit is disposed below the top surface of the turbulent melt matrix. A mixture of secondary inorganic material and organic material is introduced into the melting region below the top surface of the turbulent melt mixture. The mixture is heated with the burner to incorporate the secondary inorganic material into the turbulent melt matrix and combust at least some of the organic material to produce heat.

The invention relates to a method for producing rock wool and cast iron by melting a mixture of materials such as basalt, blast-furnace slag, coke and components necessary for melting, with an admixture containing alumina, said admixture making it possible to adjust the alumina content in order to obtain a rock wool having the following composition (as wt %): Al2O3: 18-22; SiO2: 40-50; CaO: 10-15; MgO: <10; FeO: <2; Na2O: <4; K2O: <2. The method includes the following operations: producing by melting a slag and a cast iron, separating the slag and the cast iron, and performing a fibring operation on the slag followed by a bonding operation in order to obtain the rock wool. According to the invention, at least one spent adsorbent and/or catalyst is used as an admixture, said catalyst containing alumina in Al2O3 form. Said adsorbent and/or catalyst preferably contains at least one metal, and said metal is retrieved in the cast iron.

The invention relates to a method comprising a step of emitting at least one first gas flow (12), a step of sweeping the free surface of the material (15) by means of said first flow (12), followed by a step of discharging the first flow via at least one discharge area. Along with the step of emitting the first flow (12), a step of emitting at least one second gas flow (13) is implemented, said second gas flow forming a protective cover over the free surface of the material (15), at a distance from said free surface. The second gas flow (13) is discharged via an upper part of the discharge area of the container (10), while the first flow (12) is discharged through a lower part of the discharge area.

A sealing system for isolating the environment inside a vitrification container from the outside environment comprises a vitrification container with a lid. The lid comprises two or more electrode seal assemblies through which two or more electrodes may be operatively positioned and extend down through the lid into the vitrification container. The electrodes may move axially up and down through the electrode seal assemblies or lock into place. The electrode seal assemblies each comprise a housing having two halves with recessed ring grooves. Sealing rings with a split may be placed into the grooves. Gas galleries may be machined or cast into the housing such that they are adjacent to the ring grooves. The gas galleries distribute gas onto the external faces of the sealing rings causing a change in pressure resulting in the sealing rings compressing onto the electrodes and forming a seal.

An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas.

A method of forming a rope material from a loose feed scrap includes a number of operations to mechanically bind the loose feed scrap. The feed scrap is collected. The feed scrap is twisted and compressed, operations that may be performed simultaneously. This twisted and compressed feed scrap, now in the form of a rope material, is then fed into a melter system.

This invention relates to using a production glass furnace to melt waste glass and other glass constituents thereby providing a radiant heat source within the furnace to efficiently gasify organic waste materials recovered from a variety of waste streams to thereby produce a synthesis gas (Syngas) that is comprised mostly of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide that can be further refined and sold as a high value fuel. The gasification of the organic waste within the production glass furnace has minimal impact on the composition of the glass melt thus allowing for the production of the same range of glass products as if no organic waste was added to the furnace.

A large melting furnace suitable for borosilicate glass. Which has a melting area, a reinforcing area, an ascending area and a clarifying area. The melting area and the reinforcing area are separated by a partition wall, and a lower end of the partition wall goes deep below a surface of molten glass but is not in contact with a bottom of the melting furnace, so as to guarantee that the molten glass in the two areas is interconnected. The structures of the melting area and reinforcing area can also improve the problem of boron volatilization of the borosilicate glass caused by flame melting during a melting process. The molten glass flows out from a throat of the reinforcing area, passes through the ascending area and enters the shallower clarifying area.

Provided is a method for producing a glass material whereby a glass material less likely to undergo solarization can be obtained. A method for producing a glass material includes the steps of: preparing a glass; and subjecting the glass to heat treatment for six or more hours at a temperature of not lower than (Tg?70?) C and not higher than (Tg+40?) C where a glass transition point of the glass is represented as Tg (? C.).

Provided is a method for producing a glass material whereby a glass material less likely to undergo solarization can be obtained. A method for producing a glass material includes the steps of: preparing a glass; and subjecting the glass to heat treatment for six or more hours at a temperature of not lower than (Tg?70?) C and not higher than (Tg+40?) C where a glass transition point of the glass is represented as Tg (? C.).