Abstract: Waste-processing and transportation systems and methods are described. An exemplary waste processing and transportation system (10) comprises a receiving area (20) where loose waste (28) is delivered, a baler (22) for processing the loose waste (28) into waste bales (34), and a loading area (26) where the waste bales (34) are loaded onto a transport vehicle (e.g., a barge 36). A loader (32a) may operate in the receiving area (20) to load the loose waste (28) into the baler (22). At least one material handler (42a) may be configured to move the waste bales (34) onto the transport vehicle (36) for transport to a waste transfer facility (14). The waste bales (34) are configured such that the waste bales are unloaded from the transport vehicle (36) at the waste transfer facility (14) and loaded onto other transport vehicles (e.g., railcars 38) without further processing of the waste bales (34).

Abstract: High-compression balers and methods for forming bales are disclosed. An exemplary baler 10 comprises a baling chamber 26 configured to receive the material. The baling chamber is formed by a pair of end plates 30a, 30b defining the longitudinal ends of the baling chamber, and a driven endless belt 28 guided by a plurality of rollers 36, 37, 40, 44, 50. The endless belt defines a periphery of the baling chamber. An exemplary method comprises providing an endless belt around at least a driven roller 40 and a tilt roller pair 36, 37, receiving the material in a baling chamber 26 through a throat 24 formed between the driven roller 40 and the tilt roller pair 36, 37, increasing the pressure applied by the endless belt 28 to the material, and securing the material in the baling chamber with netting 60 to form the bales 20.

Abstract: Waste-processing and transportation systems and methods are described. An exemplary waste processing and transportation system (10) comprises a receiving area (20) where loose waste (28) is delivered, a baler (22) for processing the loose waste (28) into waste bales (34), and a loading area (26) where the waste bales (34) are loaded onto a transport vehicle (e.g., a barge 36). A loader (32a) may operate in the receiving area (20) to load the loose waste (28) into the baler (22). At least one material handler (42a) may be configured to move the waste bales (34) onto the transport vehicle (36) for transport to a waste transfer facility (14). The waste bales (34) are configured such that the waste bales are unloaded from the transport vehicle (36) at the waste transfer facility (14) and loaded onto other transport vehicles (e.g., railcars 38) without further processing of the waste bales (34).

Abstract: High-compression balers and methods for forming bales are disclosed. An exemplary baler (10) comprises a baling chamber (26) configured to receive the material. The baling chamber is formed by a pair of end plates (30a, 30b) defining the longitudinal ends of the baling chamber, and a driven endless belt (28) guided by a plurality of rollers (36, 37, 40, 44, 50). The endless belt defines a periphery of the baling chamber. An exemplary method comprises providing an endless belt around at least a driven roller (40) and a tilt roller pair (36, 37), receiving the material in a baling chamber (26) through a throat (24) formed between the driven roller (40) and the tilt roller pair (36, 37), increasing the pressure applied by the endless belt (28) to the material, and securing the material in the baling chamber with netting (60) to form the bales (20).

Abstract: Apparatus for in-situ remediation of contaminant-bearing earthen material includes a generally cylindrical tined assembly; a housing for mounting the tined assembly for rotational motion; an hydraulic driver for delivering torque to rotate the tined assembly; and an additive supply system configured to drop an additive into the space defined by and along the length of the cylindrical tined assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for in-situ remediation of contaminant-bearing earthen material includes a generally cylindrical tined assembly; a housing for mounting the tined assembly for rotational motion; an hydraulic driver for delivering torque to rotate the tined assembly; and an additive supply system configured to drop an additive into the space defined by and along the length of the cylindrical tined assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for chemically and physically stabilizing contaminated soil is disclosed. The soil is homogenized in a homogenizer; dropped into a mixer below the homogenizer and mixed with an additive; then dropped to a processing terminus located below the mixer. The apparatus and method are useful for processing highly clumped and/or acidic soil, e.g., soil contaminated with mining waste.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for chemically and physically stabilizing contaminated soil is disclosed. The soil is homogenized in a homogenizer; dropped into a mixer below the homogenizer and mixed with an additive; then dropped to a processing terminus located below the mixer. The apparatus and method are useful for processing highly clumped and/or acidic soil, e.g., soil contaminated with mining waste.

Abstract: A disposal of waste material including water, volatile components and vitrifiable components, the waste material is heated in a dehydrator to remove the water, heated in a high-temperature dryer to vaporize hydrocarbon liquids, and then fed to the focus point of a primary plasma reactor where plasma arc jets are focused on the surface of a pool of the vitrifiable components. At the focus point the vitrifiable components are melted, and the volatile components are volatized. The melted vitrifiable components are received in a quench chamber where they solidify on a quench roller and are broken into chips and delivered to a receiving area. Heat from the quench chamber is transferred to the dehydrator and high-temperature dryer. The hydrocarbon liquids and volatized components are fed to a secondary plasma reactor where they are disassociated into their elemental components.

Abstract: For disposal of waste material including water, volatile components and vitrifiable components, the waste material is heated in a dehydrator to remove the water, heated in a high-temperature dryer to vaporize hydrocarbon liquids, and then fed to the focus point of a primary plasma reactor where plasma arc jets are focused on the surface of a pool of the vitrifiable components. At the focus point the vitrifiable components are melted, and the volatile components are volatized. The melted vitrifiable components are received in a quench chamber where they solidify on a quench roller and are broken into chips and delivered to a receiving area. Heat from the quench chamber is transferred to the dehydrator and high-temperature dryer. The hydrocarbon liquids and volatized components are fed to a secondary plasma reactor where they are disassociated into their elemental components.

Abstract: Oil, water and sand are separated from soil by screening and separation of coarse particles, agitating the soil in a solution of non-ionic biodegradable detergent to promote emulsification of the oil, separating sand from the emulsion, separating the oil in the emulsion from the detergent solution in a coalescing filter, and recycling the detergent solution. Preferably the soil and detergent solution is agitated first at low speed to separate any aggregate from the soil, and to provide a homogenized mixture of the soil and the detergent solution, and then agitating the homogenized mixture of the soil and the detergent at high speed to transfer the oil from the soil into an emulsion with the detergent solution. For reduced maintenance of the coalescing filter, the emulsion is passed through a hydrocyclone for removing fines before the emulsion is passed to the coalescing filter.

Abstract: For disposal of waste material including water, volatile components and vitrifiable components, the waste material is heated in a dehydrator to remove the water, heated in a high-temperature dryer to vaporize hydrocarbon liquids, and then fed to the focus point of a primary plasma reactor where plasma arc jets are focused on the surface of a pool of the vitrifiable components. At the focus point the vitrifiable components are melted, and the volatile components are volatized. The melted vitrifiable components are received in a quench chamber where they solidify on a quench roller and are broken into chips and delivered to a receiving area. Heat from the quench chamber is transferred to the dehydrator and high-temperature dryer. The hydrocarbon liquids and volatized components are fed to a secondary plasma reactor where they are disassociated into their elemental components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for removing arsine from a gaseous stream such as the gaseous effluent stream from an MOCVD operation in which arsine is employed as an arsenic source. The arsine is burned in the gas phase in the presence of oxygen (air) to form arsenic oxide and a gaseous effluent stream in which all or part of the arsenic oxide is entrained. The arsenic oxide is removed from this stream by washing the same with an aqueous stream thereby forming an aqueous solution of arsenic oxide. At least a portion of this aqueous solution is recirculated to the aqueous spray so that a progressively enriched aqueous solution of arsenic oxide is formed. Periodically an insoluble arsenic containing compound is precipitated from the solution before it becomes saturated with arsenic oxide. Thus, arsine is eliminated from gaseous streams and converted into harmless forms which can be readily handled and disposed of without harm to the environment.