Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a waste processing system. The system comprises a container preparation area wherein containers are prepared for in-container vitrification processes, a feed area where spent media, recycled waste, and one or more of glass frit, silica sand, or glass formers, are blended to form blended waste. The blended waste is metered into a prepared container from the container preparation area as electricity is applied to electrodes placed in the waste within the container, thereby creating heat sufficient to melt the contents of the container. This results in a container containing vitrified glass product with entrained contaminants. The system includes a container cooling area where the processed container may be cooled, and a container disposition area where the processed container may be surveyed, decontaminated, sealed, shielded, and/or prepared for storage.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for feeding an electrode into a container using an electrode feeder system. A fixed gripper is coupled to a support frame at or near a fixed base plate. A moveable gripper is positioned at or near a lower limit switch located at or near a base plate. The moveable gripper is coupled to one or more sliders that are coupled to the support frame. An electrode is positioned through the fixed gripper and the moveable gripper, and the fixed gripper is closed around the electrode. The moveable gripper is closed around the electrode and the fixed gripper is opened. The moveable gripper is lowered along a length of the electrode feeder system causing the electrode to be lowered into the container. The steps are repeated until a process occurring in the container is complete or the electrode is consumed.

Abstract: A process for melting material to be treated includes placing material to be treated in a container that may include an insulating lining, heating the material to be treated and melting the material to be treated, preferably allowing the melted material to cool to form a vitrified and/or crystalline mass, and disposing of the mass. The mass is either disposed while contained in container or removed from container after cooling and disposed. Heat loss and melt-surface disruptions can be minimized with an engineered overburden material, which covers at least a portion of an exposed surface of the material to be treated.

Abstract: A process for melting material to be treated includes placing material to be treated in a container that may include an insulating lining, heating the material to be treated and melting the material to be treated, preferably allowing the melted material to cool to form a vitrified and/or crystalline mass, and disposing of the mass. The mass is either disposed while contained in container or removed from container after cooling and disposed. The insulating lining may comprise one or more layers of a thermal insulating material, one or more layers of refractory material, or a combination thereof.