Abstract: The invention provides a practical and efficient method and apparatus for thermally processing organic based raw materials of either primary or secondary (recycled) origin, in order to extract volatile organic vapors and to selectively produce either condensable hydrocarbon gases or, more preferably, non-condensable synthesis gases that are rich in hydrogen and carbon monoxide for use as a raw material in chemical processes, or as a fuel. In particular, the invention provides a single rotary reactor having two contiguous hearth reaction areas, i.e., a drying and volatizing area and a reformation area, the areas being separated from each other by a bed-retaining refractory weir. The weir has an aperture for fluidly connecting the two hearth reaction areas of the single reactor.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of organic materials (typically incorporated in domestic and industrial wastes, including auto shredder residues) to produce useful synthesis gas (primarily CO & H.sub.2) with effectively non-toxic ash residue by means of a preferably stoichiometric burner directed into a single stage reactor containing a tumbling charge thus heated to 650.degree. to 800.degree. C. (below the incipient fusion temperature of the charge) resulting in thermally cracking and gasifying the organic materials in the charge and reacting the complex hydrocarbons and gas evolved with the CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O generated by the burner by combustion of a fuel and oxygen-containing gas at a high flame temperature, typically 2500.degree. to 3000.degree. C.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of organic materials (typically incorporated in domestic and industrial wastes, including auto shredder residues) to produce useful synthesis gas (with a major content CO and H.sub.2) with effectively non-toxic ash residue by means of at least one continuously operated burner, preferably stoichiometrically balanced (1:2 for natural gas/oxygen) at least at startup and shut down (optionally with some excess of oxygen, usually under steady-state conditions, such as at a ratio of 1:4 or higher, especially if the charge has well over 18% water content), directed into a primary single stage reaction zone (through an opening in common with the effluent product gas discharged therefrom such as to assure intimate contact therebetween), which zone contains a tumbling charge in a rotating barrel-shaped horizontal reactor thus heated to from about 650.degree. to about 800.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gasifying organic materials in a gasification reactor and vitrifying residual ash in a melting furnace comprising introducing a charge containing organic materials into said reactor, heating the charge sufficiently to thermally decompose and gasify the organic materials resulting in evolved gases, by means of at least one high temperature burner gas stream by combustion of a fuel with an oxygen-containing gas, to produce said synthesis gas and residual ash, introducing said residual ash from said reactor into a separate melting furnace, vitrifying said residual ash in said melting furnace by combustion of a fuel with an oxygen-containing gas, removing said vitrified ash as a solid frit product, and introducing the combustion gas from said furnace into said reactor.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasification of organic materials (typically incorporated in domestic and industrial wastes, including auto shredder residues) to produce useful synthesis gas (primarily CO & H.sub.2) with effectively non-toxic ash residue by means of a preferably stoichiometric burner directed into a single stage reactor containing a tumbling charge thus heated to 650.degree. to 800.degree. C. (below the incipient fusion temperature of the charge) resulting in thermally cracking and gasifying the organic materials in the charge and reacting the complex hydrocarbons and gas evolved with the CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O generated by the burner by combustion of a fuel and oxygen-containing gas at a high flame temperature, typically 2500.degree. to 3000.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering primary metals from pyrometallurgical process dust, in which a vertical shaft retort, situated in a furnace or afterburner associated with a pyrometallurgical apparatus, such as an inclined rotary reduction smelter, and preferably having a tapered cross-section with the larger end at the bottom, receives greenball pellets from a pelletizer, vaporizes volatile metal metals therein, and removes them to an associated volatile metal recovery apparatus, while reducing and recovering the major metal oxide components in the pellets in metallized form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for direct reduction of metal oxides, using a rotary kiln, fed with greenball pellets, the kiln having a feed-end and a discharge end. A first chamber within the kiln, and adjacent to the feed-end, is used for drying, preheating and indurating the greenball pellets. Greenball pellets are fed into the first chamber using a conventional mechanism. The feed-end is sealed to prevent egress of process gas from the kiln into the atmosphere and ingress of the atmosphere into the kiln. A first burner is used for drying, preheating and indurating the greenball pellets within the first chamber. A second chamber within the kiln, adjacent to and connected with the first chamber, having a diameter greater than the first chamber, is used for reducing the pellets, the second chamber being adjacent to the discharge end. A second burner may be used for reducing the pellets within the second chamber. Reduced pellets are discharged from the discharge end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering primary metals from pyrometallurgical process dust, in which a vertical shaft retort, situated in a furnace or afterburner associated with a pyrometallurgical apparatus, such as an inclined rotary reduction smelter, and preferably having a tapered cross-section with the larger end at the bottom, receives greenball pellets from a pelletizer, vaporizes volatile metal metals therein, and removes them to an associated volatile metal recovery apparatus, while reducing and recovering the major metal oxide components in the pellets in metallized form.

Abstract: A method for the pyrometallurgical treatment of environmentally hazardous steelmill flue dust and sludges to separate and recover the volatile heavy metals from the flue dust material and to convert the remaining iron into recyclable directly reduced iron pellets, or disposable non-hazardous reoxidized iron pellets, or pig iron or shot and slag. The dust is mixed with solid carbonaceous reductant and a binder, pelletized, optionally dried, and reduced in an inclined rotary reduction smelter vessel. The distilled heavy metals are reoxidized and may be selectively segregated to reduce the gangue and lead oxide contamination from the reconcentrated zinc oxide dust. The reconcentrated heavy metal oxide dust is recycled by the zinc/lead industry.

Abstract: A method for the pyrometallurgical treatment of environmentally hazardous steelmill flue dust and sludges to separate and recover the volatile heavy metals from the flue dust material and to convert the remaining iron into recyclable directly reduced iron pellets, or disposable non-hazardous reoxidized iron pellets, or pig iron or shot and slag. The dust is mixed with solid carbonaceous reductant and a binder, pelletized, optionally dried, and reduced in an inclined rotary reduction smelter vessel. The distilled heavy metals are reoxidized and may be selectively segregated to reduce the gangue and lead oxide contamination from the reconcentrated zind oxide dust. The reconcentrated heavy metal oxide dust is recycled by the zinc/lead industry.