Abstract: A preferred waste treatment system and method employs multiple reactor zones for processing heterogeneous waste. In one embodiment, the reactor system (10) includes the following components: first (12) and second (14) solid waste feed subsystems; a liquid waste feed subsystem (16); a plasma torch or gas burner (18) for heating a preliminary vitrification chamber (20) of the reactor system (10); a joule effect heater (22) for heating a vitrification chamber (24); a gaseous effluent processing subsystem (26); first (30) and second (32) slag discharge processing subsystems; and a bulk processing unit (400), including a loading and/or cooling area (406), a waste destruction chamber (408) heated to temperatures between about 250° F. and 2100° F.; a conveying mechanism (418) between the loading area (406) and the waste destruction chamber (408). In an alternative embodiment, each of the reactor zones is heated by joule effect heaters.

Abstract: The novel waste treatment system of the invention employs multiple reactor zones for processing heterogeneous waste. In one embodiment, the reactor system (10) includes the following components: first (12) and second (14) solid waste feed subsystems; and liquid waste feed subsystem (16); a plasma torch assembly (18) for heating a first chamber (20) of the reactor system (10); a joule effect heater assembly (22) for heating a second chamber (24); a gaseous effluent processing subsystem (26); a metal discharge recycling subsystem (28); and first (30) and second (32) slag discharge processing subsystems. In an alternative embodiment, each of the reactor zones is heated by joule effect heaters. The reactor system (10) can be operated in an oxidation or reduction mode. In either mode, the reactor system (10) allows for more complete reaction of a variety of heterogeneous waste.