Disclosed herein are methods for mineralizing a perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), the method comprising heating a solution comprising the PFAS, a base, and a polar aprotic solvent to an effective mineralization temperature.

A recycling disposal system is provided, the system efficiently combining the respective devices of a shredder, a carbonization furnace, and a gasification furnace to provide a new system combining low-temperature asbestos detoxification processing technology with biomass processing and recycling technology, and capable of energy-self-sufficient processing when operated in a disaster area.

A recycling disposal system is provided, the system efficiently combining the respective devices of a shredder, a carbonization furnace, and a gasification furnace to provide a new system combining low-temperature asbestos detoxification processing technology with biomass processing and recycling technology, and capable of energy-self-sufficient processing when operated in a disaster area.

Disclosed are systems and methods for treating contaminated material. The material is heated by nonconductive and nonconvective heating in a vacuum chamber such that the surface of the material is heated without significant heating of the air within the chamber. The surface of the material is heated to at least a volatilization temperature of the contaminants or to a decomposition temperature of one or more compounds in intimate contact with the contaminants, so that the concentration of contaminants in the material is reduced. Exhaust is removed from the chamber and cooled. A solids and/or liquids collector removes condensed solids and/or liquids and has a gas outlet connected to a vacuum pump.

Disclosed are systems and methods for treating contaminated material. The material is heated by nonconductive and nonconvective heating in a vacuum chamber such that the surface of the material is heated without significant heating of the air within the chamber. The surface of the material is heated to at least a volatilization temperature of the contaminants or to a decomposition temperature of one or more compounds in intimate contact with the contaminants, so that the concentration of contaminants in the material is reduced. Exhaust is removed from the chamber and cooled. A solids and/or liquids collector removes condensed solids and/or liquids and has a gas outlet connected to a vacuum pump.

There is disclosed a process for debromination of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) through co-pyrolysis with zinc oxide (ZnO) and franklinite (ZnFe.sub.2O.sub.4) to effectively restrict brominated species emission from NBFRs during thermal degradation. The method addresses environmental concerns by converting tetrabromobisphenol A 2,3-dibromopropyl ether (TBBPA-DBPE) and tetrabromobisphenol A diallyl ether (TBBPA-DAE) into bromine-free hydrocarbons. Utilizing Zn-based metal oxides from electrical arc furnace dust (EAFD), this process transforms them into metal bromides, facilitating selective zinc extraction. Thermogravimetric analysis guides pyrolysis at up to 500 C., revealing ZnO's efficacy in capturing 92% of HBr gas and producing minimal brominated compounds (relative area, 0.83%). Phenol emerges as a significant condensable product, while inorganic gases and methane dominates the non-condensable fraction. The retained metal bromides in pyrochar and <8% HBr gas emissions underscore ZnO's debromination potential. This method also suggests ZnO's application for dehalogenating other polymers and using spinel ferrites in combating brominated polymers.

There is disclosed a process for debromination of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) through co-pyrolysis with zinc oxide (ZnO) and franklinite (ZnFe.sub.2O.sub.4) to effectively restrict brominated species emission from NBFRs during thermal degradation. The method addresses environmental concerns by converting tetrabromobisphenol A 2,3-dibromopropyl ether (TBBPA-DBPE) and tetrabromobisphenol A diallyl ether (TBBPA-DAE) into bromine-free hydrocarbons. Utilizing Zn-based metal oxides from electrical arc furnace dust (EAFD), this process transforms them into metal bromides, facilitating selective zinc extraction. Thermogravimetric analysis guides pyrolysis at up to 500 C., revealing ZnO's efficacy in capturing 92% of HBr gas and producing minimal brominated compounds (relative area, 0.83%). Phenol emerges as a significant condensable product, while inorganic gases and methane dominates the non-condensable fraction. The retained metal bromides in pyrochar and <8% HBr gas emissions underscore ZnO's debromination potential. This method also suggests ZnO's application for dehalogenating other polymers and using spinel ferrites in combating brominated polymers.

Disclosed are systems and methods for treating contaminated material. The material is heated by nonconductive and nonconvective heating in a vacuum chamber such that the surface of the material is heated without significant heating of the air within the chamber. The surface of the material is heated to at least a volatilization temperature of the contaminants or to a decomposition temperature of one or more compounds in intimate contact with the contaminants, so that the concentration of contaminants in the material is reduced. Exhaust is removed from the chamber and cooled. A solids and/or liquids collector removes condensed solids and/or liquids and has a gas outlet connected to a vacuum pump.

Disclosed are systems and methods for treating contaminated material. The material is heated by nonconductive and nonconvective heating in a vacuum chamber such that the surface of the material is heated without significant heating of the air within the chamber. The surface of the material is heated to at least a volatilization temperature of the contaminants or to a decomposition temperature of one or more compounds in intimate contact with the contaminants, so that the concentration of contaminants in the material is reduced. Exhaust is removed from the chamber and cooled. A solids and/or liquids collector removes condensed solids and/or liquids and has a gas outlet connected to a vacuum pump.

A method for treatment of ash from incineration plants includes: collecting ash from an incinerator; feeding the collected ash and additional feed material to a gasification/vitrification reactor; vitrifying the ash and additional feed material in the gasification/vitrification reactor, to form a slag of molten material; allowing the slag to flow from the gasification/vitrification reactor and solidify outside the gasification/vitrification reactor; gasifying volatile components in the ash and the additional feed material; combusting syngas generated in the gasification/vitrification reactor in a secondary combustion zone in the gasification/vitrification reactor; and supplying products of the syngas combustion to the incinerator to augment the thermal environments of the incinerator. An apparatus used to practice the method is also provided.