DESTROYING HAZARDOUS ORGANIC CHEMICALS USING PLASMA
TORCH TECHNOLOGY

Stephalile Browne
Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
April 23, 1996

Abstract. Plasma is the fourth state of matter. Plasma is an ionized gas that conducts
electricity. A plasma torch creates a concentrated arc of electrical current between the tip
of the torch and a conductive material. Plasma is produced when compressed air is blown
across an electrode located in the torch tip. The electrode ionizes the gas, creating an
electrical current that reaches extremely high temperatures. It is these high temperatures
that cause materials to be destroyed or broken down. A plasma torch is used in industrial
settings to cut thin sheets of metal. However, plasma technology is currently being
developed to destroy hazardous wastes.
	The objective of this study was to determine if it was feasible to break down organic
chemicals using a plasma torch and to design a system that would collect and analyze the
by-products. A hole was drilled into the torch tip and a device fitted to it so that a small
stainless steel pipe could feed the organics into the torch. The stainless steel pipe was
attached to a peristaltic pump which pumped the sample into the torch. As the sample was
being pumped into the torch, a water-cooled copper tube was used to conduct an
electrical current so the torch could be run for extended periods of time. A steel pipe was
used to contain the sample while keeping the sample hot for further combustion. A piece
of stainless steel tubing was placed down into the steel pipe to transport the sample to an
infrared spectrometer that was used to analyze the sample. The infrared spectrometer
gives an indication of what the sample was broken down into. An aquarium pump was
used to pump the analyzed organics into a hood.
	After the system was set-up, dichlorobenzene was run through the torch. The infrared
spectrometer showed that the dichlorobenzene was combusted because of the presence of
carbon dioxide and water vapor peaks. In conclusion, hazardous organic chemicals can be
broken down using a plasma torch. Perhaps in the future, this technology can be used to
eliminate hazardous wastes without polluting the environment in a fairly inexpensive
manner.



REFERENCES

Ondrey, Gerald and Ken Fouhy. Plasma arcs sputter new waste treatment. Chemical
	Engineering. 98.32-3+. Dec.1991.