Abstract: In a thermal reductor unit for decontaminating soil of combustible and volatile fluids, as interior drum is mounted concentrically within a shell in surrounding relation to an ignition chamber. An annular space between the drum and shell provides a compartment wherein soil being processed is received to serve as an insulating medium for the ignition chamber.

Abstract: A kiln is disclosed which includes an elongated housing formed by a plurality of interconnected longitudinally extending sections each forming an independent housing module. Each housing module has support means for rotatably supporting that housing module independently of any other module and power means for moving the support means of each housing module into contact engagement therewith for compensating for load variations applied to the support means and uniformly distributing the loading forces imposed thereon by the housing modules and their respective contents.

Abstract: An apparatus for combusting wet waste or the like comprising ignition means including an ignition chamber having an inlet passageway extending therefrom for introducing the waste, an ignition burner for heating the waste to form non-combustible solids and at least partially combustible flue gases, a first outlet for the flue gases in the wall of the inlet passageway, and a second outlet for the solids; combustion means for substantially combusting the flue gases including a combustion passageway wrapped around the inlet passageway from the ignition chamber first outlet to a combustion chamber, and a combustion burner in the combustion passageway adjacent to the first outlet for aspirating and heating the flue gases; heat recuperating means for transferring heat from the substantially combusted flue gases to preheat an oxygen-containing gas; and passageway means for transferring the pre-heated oxygen-containing gas from the recuperator to the ignition burner and the combustion burner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detoxifying soil particles containing low melting point mineral compounds contaminated with combustible toxic materials wherein the soil particles are located without melting the low melting point mineral compounds to form combusted solids and a mixture of mineral dust and toxic material containing gas, the combusted solids are separated from the dust-gas mixture, the dust gas mixture is thereafter separated into the mineral dust and the toxic material-containing gas, and the toxic material-containing gas is then combusted at high temperature to form less harmful combustion products. The low melting point mineral compounds may be those mineral compounds of oxygen, silicon, calcium, iron and aluminum, and certain metal and metal oxides. The combustible toxic materials may be dioxin and PCB.