Abstract: An advanceable refractory ceramic electrode is provided for use in the electrical heating of a molten mass in a furnace. The electrode has a tubular ceramic body having a terminal region that in use is immersed in the molten mass and a basal region that in use fits sealingly into the lining. A core is a close fit into the electrode body and projects from one end thereof. At least the outer surface of the core is of a metal that is non-reactive with the material of the refractory ceramic electrode at the temperature of the molten mass and that is itself molten at said temperature so that in use of the electrode the metal in the terminal region melts and establishes an intimate contact between the core and the electrode body. A connector comprises a socket in which core projecting from the electrode body fits to establish a current path to the electrode and a sleeve surrounding the socket and defining an abutment for the electrode body.

Abstract: Glass is made from a feed consisting of batch materials and cullet in a furnace that is both electrically and gas fired. A batch-only hopper discharges through a blanket conveyor to a batch melting chamber that is electrically fired and is connected via a submerged throat to a fritting chamber where the at least partly molten batch materials are mixed with cullet fed from cullet-only hoppers by blanket feeders. The fritting chamber is fired by a combination of electricity and roof-mounted flat flame burners. Material passes from the fritting chamber to a secondary reheating and refining chamber which is heated by regenerative gas burners. The separation of batch materials from cullet and separate melting thereof in a pre-melter means that the feed to the secondary refining and conditioning chamber is relatively free of fines and requirement to melt only cullet in the fritting chamber and secondary refining chamber enables those chambers to be operated at a lower temperature than the batch melting chamber.

Abstract: Wate asbestos is converted into a glass by maintaining within an electrical glass melting furnace a body of molten glass at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of asbestos; supplying asbestos to the furnace by a conveyor discharging above the body of molten glass so that the asbestos falls onto the molten glass and becomes decomposed and melted into glass; and withdrawing molten glass from the furnace at a temperature of at least 1000.degree. C. The asbestos is advantageously mixed with cullet and a melt accelerator and fed into the furnace by means of a screw mixer/conveyor. The furnace is advantageously operated at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Waste asbestos is converted into a glass by maintaining within an electrical glass melting furnace a body of molten glass at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of asbestos; supplying asbestos to the furnace; and withdrawing molten glass from the furnace at a temperature of at least 1000.degree. C. The asbestos is advantageously mixed with cullet and a melt accelerator and fed into the furnace by means of a screw mixer/conveyor. The furnace is advantageously operated at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.