An apparatus for the destruction of a precursor material includes a steam plasma reactor having a high temperature zone and a combustion zone. The high temperature zone is adapted for hydrolyzing the precursor material, whereas the combustion zone is adapted to effect medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream where combustion oxygen or air is injected. A quenching unit is provided at an exit end of the reactor for quenching a resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products.

The present invention relates to a process for co-gasification of two or more carbonaceous feedstock, said process comprising combusting a first carbonaceous feedstock having high calorific value with low ash and high hydrogen content, to produce a heated effluent; carrying the heated effluent to second reactor where the heated effluent reacts with a second carbonaceous feedstock, having low calorific value with high ash and low hydrogen content, to produce synthesis gas.The present invention also relates to an apparatus for co-gasification of two or more carbonaceous feedstock, comprising a first reactor (3), having a first feedstock inlet port (1), a oxygen or air inlet port (2), a steam inlet port (9), a ash removal port (7), and a solid recycle port (6); a first cyclone separator (5) connected to the first reactor (3) through a first cyclone separator inlet port (4); a second reactor (16), having a second feedstock inlet port (10), and a ash removal port (15), the second reactor is connected to the first cyclone separator (5) through a gaseous inlet port (8); and a second cyclone separator (12), having a fine particles removal port (13), and an effluent port (14), wherein the second cyclone separator is connected to the second reactor through a second cyclone separator inlet port (11).

The present invention relates to a process for co-gasification of two or more carbonaceous feedstock, said process comprising combusting a first carbonaceous feedstock having high calorific value with low ash and high hydrogen content, to produce a heated effluent; carrying the heated effluent to second reactor where the heated effluent reacts with a second carbonaceous feedstock, having low calorific value with high ash and low hydrogen content, to produce synthesis gas. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for co-gasification of two or more carbonaceous feedstock, comprising a first reactor (3), having a first feedstock inlet port (1), a oxygen or air inlet port (2), a steam inlet port (9), a ash removal port (7), and a solid recycle port (6); a first cyclone separator (5) connected to the first reactor (3) through a first cyclone separator inlet port (4); a second reactor (16), having a second feedstock inlet port (10), and a ash removal port (15), the second reactor is connected to the first cyclone separator (5) through a gaseous inlet port (8); and a second cyclone separator (12), having a fine particles removal port (13), and an effluent port (14), wherein the second cyclone separator is connected to the second reactor through a second cyclone separator inlet port (11).

A two step process for the destruction of a precursor material using a steam plasma in a three zone reactor wherein the precursor material is hydrolyzed as a first step in the high temperature zone of the reactor, followed by a second step of medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream in the combustion zone of the reactor where combustion oxygen or air is injected and immediate quenching of the resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products. A related apparatus includes a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, an externally cooled three zone steam plasma reactor means for introducing the precursor material into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor.

A two step process for the destruction of a precursor material using a steam plasma in a three zone reactor wherein the precursor material is hydrolyzed as a first step in the high temperature zone of the reactor, followed by a second step of medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream in the combustion zone of the reactor where combustion oxygen or air is injected and immediate quenching of the resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products. A related apparatus includes a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, an externally cooled three zone steam plasma reactor means for introducing the precursor material into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor.