Abstract: In the separation and/or reaction of particles, these are heated together with a gaseous carrier medium. Constituents of these particles thus vaporize and form a mixture, while solid constituents remain.A process is to be indicated which enables pollutants adsorbed on the particles to be separated off and/or reacted economically, without an uncontrolled release of residual pollutants to the environment. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also to be provided. This is achieved by mixing the particles and the carrier medium at controlled rates to give a fluidized blend. This blend is heated in a fluidized bed of a heating device in such a way that a mixture is formed. Immediately after the mixture has left the heating device, solid constituents of the mixture are precipitated and the remaining part of the mixture is then passed forward in a closed circulation.

Abstract: The circuit breaker displays a commutation device (4) and a semiconductor valve arrangement (6) which is connected in parallel with the commutation device (4), an isolating switching point (5) connected in series with the semiconductor valve arrangement (6) and a control circuit (11). The control circuit detects the polarity of the current to be disconnected and, together with a switching-off command (24), emits a response command to the commutation device (4) when the detected current flows in the direction of conduction of the semiconductor valve arrangement (6). When the current to be disconnected is interrupted in the semiconductor valve arrangement (6) after the commutation device (4) has responded, the control circuit (11) emits a release command to the isolating switching point (5) forming an isolating gap. As a result, the semiconductor valve arrangement (6) is isolated and the switching-off process is terminated.