A method for recycling glass scrap from exhausted photovoltaic panels containing organic and substantially lead-free contaminants which allows obtaining industrial-degree liquid sodium silicates and mixed inorganic silicates insoluble in water and in alkaline solutions having a high number of industrial applications. The embodiments also relate to soluble and insoluble silicates obtained by such a method.

A method for recycling glass scrap from exhausted photovoltaic panels containing organic and substantially lead-free contaminants which allows obtaining industrial-degree liquid sodium silicates and mixed inorganic silicates insoluble in water and in alkaline solutions having a high number of industrial applications. The embodiments also relate to soluble and insoluble silicates obtained by such a method.

A rod bundle includes a core-clad rod that includes a core rod and a cladding layer that covers the core rod, a plurality of first filling rods disposed around the core-clad rod to be in contact with the core-clad rod, and two second filling rods that are disposed opposite to each other and interposing the core-clad rod therebetween to be distant from the core-clad rod and form first spaces with the core-clad rod. The rod bundle also includes a pair of second spaces that are next to the core-clad rod are formed to interpose the core-clad rod therebetween in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the two second filling rods are opposite to each other and, in a transverse plane, an area of each of the first spaces is more than an area of each of second spaces.

Methods of sequestering toxin particulates are described herein. In a primary processing chamber, a carbon source of toxin particulates may be combined with plasma from three plasma torches to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue. Each torch may have a working gas including oxygen gas, water vapor, and carbon dioxide gas. The vitrified toxin residue is removed. The first fluid mixture may be cooled in a first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture. The second fluid mixture may contact a wet scrubber. The final product from the wet scrubber may be used as a fuel product.

The present invention relates to an improvement to the treatment of needles for safe disposal. The device comprises a support member having at least one recess. Each said at least one recess is configured to receive a needle contained in a corresponding plastic needle cap. The device further comprises a heating element configured to heat the support member, such that the plastic material of the needle cap softens and flows to encapsulate the corresponding needle. Each said at least one recess has dimensions such that, after heating, the needle is fully encapsulated by the plastic material of the corresponding needle cap. A corresponding method is disclosed.

Provided is a method for transporting reductant such as coke into a metallurgical furnace containing a bottom layer containing molten metal and a top layer on top of the bottom layer containing molten metal. The method comprises a first providing step for providing reductant, a second providing step for providing metal, a forming step for forming carriers containing reductant and metal of reductant provided in the first providing step and metal provided in the second providing step, and a feeding step for feeding carriers formed in the forming step into the metallurgical furnace. Also provided is a carrier and a production method for producing carriers.

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 for vitrification of arsenic and antimony, comprising substituting oxygen to sulfur on thiosalts, incorporating resulting sodium arsenate and sodium antimonate into a sodium silicate glass-forming mixture and vitrifying the sodium silicate glass-forming mixture into a resulting glass sequestering the arsenic and antimony.

A method for vitrification of arsenic and antimony, comprising substituting oxygen to sulfur on thiosalts, incorporating resulting sodium arsenate and sodium antimonate into a sodium silicate glass-forming mixture and vitrifying the sodium silicate glass-forming mixture into a resulting glass sequestering the arsenic and antimony.

Described herein are methods of recycling polypropylene based personal protective equipment. The method may comprise the steps of: (a) conveying a feed of personal protective equipment; (b) cleaning at least a portion of the feed of personal protective equipment; (c) fragmenting the personal protective equipment into a plurality of fragments, the plurality of fragments comprising non-polypropylene fragments and polypropylene fragments; (d) separating at least a portion of the non-polypropylene fragments from the polypropylene fragments to produce a batch of polypropylene fragments; and (e) pelletizing the batch of polypropylene fragments to produce polypropylene pellets.