Christopher E Nagel

US Patent:

58660950, Feb 2, 1999

Filed:

Jan 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/784045

Inventors:

Casey E. McGeever - Hanover MA
Christopher J. Nagel - Boston MA

Assignee:

Molten Metal Technology, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

A62D 300
C02F 172

US Classification:

423659

Abstract:

A method and system is disclosed for converting a feed, such as a carbonaceous waste, to dissolved atomic constituents for subsequent oxidation of the dissolved atomic constituents. The feed is injected into a molten bath which, at a sufficient temperature, causes conversion of essentially all of the feed to its atomic constituents, such as atomic carbon. Essentially all of the atomic constituents which are to be oxidized in the molten bath dissolve in the molten bath. An oxidant is injected into the molten bath at a rate sufficient to cause the oxidant to exothermically react with the dissolved atomic constituents to heat at least a portion of the molten bath. The heated portion is thereafter exposed to subsequently injected feed, whereby essentially all of the subsequently injected feed is converted to atomic constituents, and whereby essentially all of the atomic constituents which are to be oxidized in the molten bath dissolve in the molten bath, thereby converting the feed to the dissolved atomic constituents for subsequent oxidation of the dissolved atomic constituents.