Abstract: A plasma process and equipment for eliminating toxic or hazardous organic compounds from different materials, particularly petroleum and oil contaminated soils. The process and equipment can also be used to remove the hydrocarbons contained in the sludge formed at the bottom of petroleum storage tanks. The process utilizes a plasma system for providing the necessary energy to the contaminated soil or sludge for the hydrocarbons to volatilize, keeping the temperature inside the reactor between 400 and 900° C. The volatilized compounds after leaving the reactor are collected in condensers, where the hydrocarbons can be recovered, in the form of a liquid hydrocarbon (oil). The contaminated material is continuously fed into the reactor from one end, while the clean material is removed from the other end of the reactor. The atmosphere inside the reactor is maintained neutral or reducing in order to prevent the oxidation of the hydrocarbons. Minimum amounts of off gases are generated in the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma process and appropriate equipment well adapted for eliminating toxic or hazardous organic compounds, such as petroleum, oils, pesticides, herbicides and various hydrocarbons, orginitated from petrochemical spills or inappropriate discard/handling, from different materials, such assail, sludges; the process and appropriate equipment can also be used to remove the hydrocarbons contained in the sludge formed at the bottom of petroleum storage tanks. The plasma process, with the appropriate equipment, object of the invention, has the following advantages as compared to the other processes used to treat similar materials: removal of the contaminants to less than 0.1% in weight of the soil or sludge; continuous operation; possibility of recovering the contaminants when desired; high energy efficiency of the process; and insignificant amount of gases to be treated.