Abstract: A process for vitrifying waste material containing environmentally hazardous metals or metal compounds includes drying a waste material using a flash dryer, where the drying is carried out at a temperature low enough to prevent volatilization of hazardous metals and metal compounds contained in the waste material. Preferably, more than about 95% of the water is removed form the waste material. The dried waste material is transferred from the flash dryer into a melting vessel, melted, collected and cooled to form a vitrified mass of waste material. Gases produced during the process of the invention are filtered, treated, and released into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process for vitrifying waste material containing environmentally hazardous metals or metal compounds includes drying a waste material using a flash dryer, where the drying is carried out at a temperature low enough to prevent volatilization of hazardous metals and metal compounds contained in the waste material. Preferably, more than about 95% of the water is removed form the waste material. The dried waste material is transferred from the flash dryer into a melting vessel, melted, collected and cooled to form a vitrified mass of waste material. Gases produced during the process of the invention are filtered, treated, and released into the atmosphere.