An accelerated process for the complete destruction of a matrix material, such as a matrix material including cement and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), is disclosed. The process comprises forming a slurry or suspension by combining the matrix material with an acid solution (including, for instance, acid waste, which can also be neutralized by the process), causing acid-based chemical reactions in the slurry that cause the destruction of the matrix material. Simultaneously to the chemical reactions, the slurry or suspension is subjected to cavitation, which synergistically cooperates with the chemical reactions to accelerate matrix material destruction. The matrix material can be ground and polarized prior to being submerged in the acid solution to form the slurry. The slurry can be subjected to hydrothermal treatment. Inert secondary raw materials (SRMs) that are non-hazardous to the environment and human health can be obtained from the process.

A reagent system for treating heavy metal-contaminated materials is provided and includes an oxidizer, a soluble phosphate, and an alkaline hydroxide source, such as a caustic soda or lime. A method of treating mine waste bearing one or more heavy metals is also provided and includes the step of admixing a reagent system with heavy metal-containing material to preferentially reduce the leachability of heavy metals and form precipitates and complexes of low metal solubility that remain stable within the host solid matrix for long durations in acidic and abrasive conditions.

The present invention discloses a method for detoxifying chromium slag by using high sulfur coal. The method includes: sieving chromium slag into coarse-grained chromium slag and fine-grained chromium slag, air-drying and crushing both the coarse-grained chromium slag and the fine-grained chromium slag; separately mixing the crushed coarse-grained chromium slag and fine-grained chromium slag with the crushed high sulfur coal uniformly; adjusting pH values of a coarse-grained slag mixture and a fine-grained slag mixture to 8.0-11.0 and moisture content thereof to 12%-18%; conducting reduction on the treated coarse-grained slag mixture and fine-grained slag mixture, where the reduction temperature of the fine-grained slag mixture is 500-700 C., the reduction time of the fine-grained slag mixture is 10-30 min, the reduction temperature of the coarse-grained slag mixture is 800-1000 C., the reduction time of the coarse-grained slag mixture is 10-30 min; after the reduction, conducting water quenching, and discharging the product.

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.

A PFAS detoxification system 1 includes a concentrator 11 configured to concentrate a waste liquid containing PFAS, discharged from a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 100; a sulfuric acid processing tub 12 configured to decompose and evaporate a concentrated liquid concentrated by the concentrator 11 with a liquid containing concentrated sulfuric acid; and a cooling apparatus 13 configured to liquefy and collect a gas evaporated by the sulfuric acid processing tub 12.

The invention relates to a process for treating an asbestos-containing material, which enables the asbestos to be transformed into inert products (i.e. not hazardous to human health) that can possibly be reused as raw materials for subsequent industrial processing or as directly marketable industrial products. The process comprising the steps of preparing an acidic solution/suspension by subjecting a food industry waste material to mixed bacterial and fungal growth and/or fermentation, and treating an asbestos-containing material with the acidic solution/suspension obtained from the mixed fermentation at a temperature of 120-170 C. and pressure of 2-10 bar.

An accelerated process for the complete neutralization of acid wastes, the destruction of concrete and/or the denaturation of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) includes forming a slurry or suspension by submerging in the acid solution the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs); the concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) cause the acid wastes neutralizing chemical reactions in the slurry or suspension and, at the same time, the destruction of concrete and/or the denaturation of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Simultaneously to the chemical reactions, the slurry or suspension is subjected to hydrodynamic cavitation, preferably using an apparatus capable of producing and managing three types of simultaneous controlled cavitation acting in the same space volume, accelerating the chemical reactions taking place in the slurry due also to the simultaneous presence of acid, concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). The concrete and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are preferably ground and polarized prior to be submerged in the acid solution to form the slurry. The polarization take place, for the really first time, with a cold plasma torch. In addition the slurry or suspension is preferably subjected to hydrothermal treatment, preferably using a reactor which ensures the preservation of the constancy of the ideal physical parameters for the reaction in the physical chemical environment. In this reactor are additivated chemicals, hydroxyapatite and biological substances that have binder/chelating power especially on metals contained in asbestos, especially on magnesium, in order to prevent its reformation. Recovering, at the end of the process, inert secondary raw materials (SRMs) that are non-hazardous to the environment and human health. In addition, this process could be used to produce molecules that are important intermediates of the subsequent reactions/processes, leading to the formation of salts/compounds used as dietary supplements and also in important environmental remedies such as polluted water reclamation and the treatment of heavily polluted soils.

An accelerated process for the complete destruction of a matrix material, such as a matrix material including cement and/or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), is disclosed. The process comprises forming a slurry or suspension by combining the matrix material with an acid solution (including, for instance, acid waste, which can also be neutralized by the process), causing acid-based chemical reactions in the slurry that cause the destruction of the matrix material. Simultaneously to the chemical reactions, the slurry or suspension is subjected to cavitation, which synergistically cooperates with the chemical reactions to accelerate matrix material destruction. The matrix material can be ground and polarized prior to being submerged in the acid solution to form the slurry. The slurry can be subjected to hydrothermal treatment. Inert secondary raw materials (SRMs) that are non-hazardous to the environment and human health can be obtained from the process.

A system for breaking down a PFA (perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl) compound includes a reactor vessel, a heater, and a catalyst. The reactor vessel is operable to hold influent that includes a PFA compound, an alkali, and water, while alkaline hydrolysis separates a fluorine atom from the PFA compound in the influent. The heater is operable to heat the influent to a temperature within the range of 100? Celsius to 700? Celsius. And the catalyst is operable to increase the rate at which alkaline hydrolysis separates a fluorine atom from a PFA compound. The catalyst includes a body that includes a transition metal, which is a d-block metal or a metal from any of the periodic table's groups 4-11. The body also has a shape configured to multiply a surface-area-to-volume ratio by at least 1.5 when the body is disposed in an influent experiencing alkaline hydrolysis.

A solvent extraction process for removing poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a PFAS laden adsorbent is disclosed. The process comprises introducing a substantially pure solvent at an elevated temperature to a bed of the PFAS laden adsorbent and continuously removing PFAS laden solvent from the adsorbent, wherein the introducing and removing are carried out simultaneously and continuously until a desired amount of PFAS is removed from the adsorbent. Also disclosed is a process for degrading poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to environmentally benign products. The process comprises providing an aqueous solution containing PFAS at a concentration of greater than 50 ppm; and subjecting the aqueous solution to ultrasound using at least one ultrasonic transducer at a frequency and power and for a time sufficient to degrade substantially all of the PFAS in the solution to carbon dioxide and fluoride.