Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for detoxifying the waste gases from waste incinerating plants, at least one plasma gas flow being admixed to the hot fresh flue gas flow from the waste incinerating plant for the thermal decomposition of the toxic compounds, the fresh flue gas flow is preferably heated up in a recuperation stage with a high-temperature heat exchanger by the plasma-beam-treated flue gas in the counter-flow principle and subsequently at least one plasma gas flow is mixed into the fresh flue gas heated in this fashion. Following this, the gas mixture being at a peak temperature is used for heating up the fresh flue gas flow in the recuperation stage and cooled to a temperature which is still above the waste gas temperature, and it is subsequently finally treated in a waste heat system and a flue gas purification.

Abstract: Toxic wastes are destroyed by contact thereof with a steam plasma jet and immediately thereafter with an oxidizing medium followed by washing of the resultant gaseous product with an alkaline medium. An apparatus for carrying out this method is in the form of a tubular assembly adapted to be received on a plasmatron in axial alignment therewith.