Abstract: In a glass melter, a precious metal insert is used to protect a gas bubbler from corrosion at the orifice of the bubbler through which gas is injected into the melt. The use of a precious refractory metal insert at the bubbler orifice prevents the attack of molten glass on the bubbler. The precious metal is chosen from the refractory group of metals and the platinum group of metals. Preferably the precious metal from the platinum group is platinum or one of its alloys or one of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium and iridium. The precious metal from the refractory group is preferably chromium.

Abstract: In this invention radioactive or hazardous containing materials are vitrified in a melter having two or more chambers. Glass feed materials are added to the primary chamber of the melter and they are heated to a molten glass which is then transported to one or more secondary chambers where hazardous and/or radioactive containing materials are added and are encapsulated and/or melted. In addition, the non-plutonium part of a glass feed can be melted in a non-radioactive environment which permits contact operations and maintenance; no radioactive shielding; and a conventional off gas system-similar to commercial vitrification plants. The hot molten "clean" glass is directed into a radioactive containment such as a "glove box"; shielded "glove box"; or hot cell, or a combination of these. By delivering hot "clean" glass from a melter including non-radioactive materials, 90% of the off gases will be non-radioactive.

Abstract: An off-gas quencher and solid recovery scrubber unit includes a wet flue gas scrubber which has the dual responsibilities of lowering the temperature of the inlet hot gas entering through the scrubber and trapping contaminants from the gas stream into the liquid stream. The hot exhaust gases are first cooled by evaporating the liquid scrubber solution. The contaminants of the exhaust gas are neutralized by a suitable reagent such as sodium hydroxide and the product is collected in the scrubbing solution. Since the solution is continuously recycled, the concentration of the scrubbing agent will be diminished as the scrubbing proceeds, while the concentration of the scrubbing product in the solution will rise to the solubility limit of the product. The scrubbing products start to precipitate and are collected at the bottom of the scrubber and are withdrawn. The scrubbing reagents are continuously replenished to the scrubber.