A toxic waste incinerator is capable of enhanced combustion of hazardous waste (oil contaminated sand, human waste, garbage, etc.) utilizing immersed non-combustible and thermally conductive objects for increasing heat feedback from the flames to the unburned fuel, while air inlets are used to optimize the air entrainment rate to enhance the burning efficiency. The burning rate of a fluidic mass such as a sand-oil mixture is enhanced using immersed conductive objects (copper rods) which enable rapid heat-up of the flame exposed to the upper surface of the rod and transmits heat back into the sand. Consequent conduction of heat to the porous media through the lower portion of the immersed rod significantly increases vaporization and therefore the burning rate. Incineration may be performed on a transient, exigent basis as with hazardous waste and oil spills, or as part of a permanent fixture for receiving an ongoing waste stream.

Porous media containing undesired substances, e.g., perfluoroalkylated substances, are treated by mixing the porous media with a solid fuel comprising organic material. The mixture is heated to 200 C. to 400 C. to initiate smoldering combustion and an oxidizer gas is forced through the heated mixture such that the smoldering combustion is self-sustaining until the mixture reaches a PFAS destructive temperature and the perfluoroalkylated substances are thermally destroyed. A system is provided for conducting the treatment. The system includes a source of wax, wood chips, sawdust, tire scraps, waste rubber compounds, coal, granular activated carbon, solid fat, and combinations thereof as solid fuel. A mixer is provided for mixing the porous media with the solid fuel. An ignition system including static heating elements and a gas blower are provided for forcing heated oxidizer gas through the mixture such that self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture is initiated and sustained.

Porous media containing undesired substances, e.g., perfluoroalkylated substances, are treated by mixing the porous media with a solid fuel comprising organic material. The mixture is heated to 200 C. to 400 C. to initiate smoldering combustion and an oxidizer gas is forced through the heated mixture such that the smoldering combustion is self-sustaining until the mixture reaches a PFAS destructive temperature and the perfluoroalkylated substances are thermally destroyed. A system is provided for conducting the treatment. The system includes a source of wax, wood chips, sawdust, tire scraps, waste rubber compounds, coal, granular activated carbon, solid fat, and combinations thereof as solid fuel. A mixer is provided for mixing the porous media with the solid fuel. An ignition system including static heating elements and a gas blower are provided for forcing heated oxidizer gas through the mixture such that self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture is initiated and sustained.

Methods are provided for the removal of sulfur and other ARD/AMD-generating materials through the smoldering combustion of an organic material. The methods comprise admixing an ARD/AMD-generating porous matrix material with an organic material to produce a mixture, exposing the mixture to an oxidant, and initiating a self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture. Additional embodiments aggregate the organic material or ARD/AMD-generating porous matrix material or mixture thereof in an impoundment such as a reaction vessel, depression or matrix pile. Further embodiments utilize at least one heater to initiate combustion and at least one air supply port to supply oxidant to initiate and maintain combustion.

A thermal desorption system for remediating contaminated material in a zero oxygen environment by heating a gas and flowing the heated gas through a core heating conduit traversing the interior of a material compartment of a bin filled with contaminated material, redirecting the flow of heated gas from the core heating conduit to a space between the exterior of the bin and the interior of a bin housing insulator encapsulating the bin to provide dual indirect heating to the contaminated material within the bin, directing off gases of contaminated vapors released by desorption from the material to an exhaust header through a plurality of vapor outlets, and condensing the offgas in the exhaust header.

A thermal desorption system for remediating contaminated material in a zero oxygen environment by heating a gas and flowing the heated gas through a core heating conduit traversing the interior of a material compartment of a bin filled with contaminated material, redirecting the flow of heated gas from the core heating conduit to a space between the exterior of the bin and the interior of a bin housing insulator encapsulating the bin to provide dual indirect heating to the contaminated material within the bin, directing off gases of contaminated vapors released by desorption from the material to an exhaust header through a plurality of vapor outlets, and condensing the offgas in the exhaust header.

A process for the remediation of contaminated particulate materials by the addition of an environmentally benign, carbonaceous fuel source in low concentration to enable or enhance smoldering combustion. The process may be applied to both in situ and ex situ treatments. In an ex situ smoldering process for the remediation of contaminated particulate materials in a continuous manner, contaminated feed is introduced near the top of a treatment unit and treated product emerges near the bottom. A smoldering front is maintained in the unit, fed by the fuel in the contaminated particulate material and a supply of combustion-supporting gas, such as air.

A process for the remediation of contaminated particulate materials by the addition of an environmentally benign, carbonaceous fuel source in low concentration to enable or enhance smoldering combustion. The process may be applied to both in situ and ex situ treatments. In an ex situ smoldering process for the remediation of contaminated particulate materials in a continuous manner, contaminated feed is introduced near the top of a treatment unit and treated product emerges near the bottom. A smoldering front is maintained in the unit, fed by the fuel in the contaminated particulate material and a supply of combustion-supporting gas, such as air.

Methods and systems are provided for two-stage treatment of contaminated particulate material, such as soil, sediment, and/or sludge. The methods and systems utilize a thermal desorption process combined with a smoldering combustion process. The contaminated particulate material is first exposed to thermal desorption at high temperatures (e.g., greater than 150 C.) to form a heated contaminated particulate material. Next, a smoldering combustion process is initiated by introducing a combustion-supporting gas. The combined process can take place in the same or different treatment units.

Methods and systems are provided for two-stage treatment of contaminated particulate material, such as soil, sediment, and/or sludge. The methods and systems utilize a thermal desorption process combined with a smoldering combustion process. The contaminated particulate material is first exposed to thermal desorption at high temperatures (e.g., greater than 150 C.) to form a heated contaminated particulate material. Next, a smoldering combustion process is initiated by introducing a combustion-supporting gas. The combined process can take place in the same or different treatment units.