Abstract: According to some embodiments, an apparatus and method are provided for detecting the composition of a fluid. An alternating electromagnetic field may be applied to the fluid and distortions in the electromagnetic field are compared with predetermined, expected distortion “signatures” for particular components at particular concentrations. The presence and concentration of the components in the fluid may be detected by detecting these distortion signatures.

Abstract: A municipal waste gasification system comprises a plurality of primary gasification chambers for receiving municipal waste, a means for operating the municipal waste gasification system so that one or more of the primary gasification chambers may be idle while the other primary gasification chambers are operating to produce an effluent by an oxygen-starved process, a means for heating the municipal waste under oxygen-starved conditions in the primary gasification chambers in order to gasify the municipal waste and produce the effluent, and at least one mixing chamber positioned to receive the effluent produced by the primary gasification chambers with an effluent pathway extending through each mixing chamber.