Abstract: A process for producing lactic acid according to the invention is characterized in that glycerin is subjected to a hydrothermal reaction under an alkaline condition at a temperature in the range of 150 to 400° C. and under pressure equal to or more than the saturated vapor pressure at the temperature. The glycerin produced from plant fats, animal fats or the like or pure product synthesized chemically or a discharge containing glycerin generated at the production of diesel fuel oil from fats, in which the fats are subjected to a transesterification with alcohol in the presence of an alkali catalyst in order to obtain fatty acid ester is preferably used as a starting material.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing lactic acid according to the invention comprises a reactor carrying out: subjecting glycerin to a hydrothermal reaction under an alkaline condition, supplying an alkaline solution comprising glycerin; and continuously producing lactic acid, wherein glycerin is subjected to a hydrothermal reaction under an alkaline condition at a temperature in the range of 150 to 400° C. and under pressure equal to or more than the saturated vapor pressure at the temperature. The glycerin produced from plant fats, animal fats or the like or pure product synthesized chemically or a discharge containing glycerin generated at the production of diesel fuel oil from fats, in which the fats are subjected to a transesterification with alcohol in the presence of an alkali catalyst in order to obtain fatty acid ester is preferably used as a starting material.

Abstract: A process for producing lactic acid according to the invention is characterized in that glycerin is subjected to a hydrothermal reaction under an alkaline condition at a temperature in the range of 150 to 400° C. and under pressure equal to or more than the saturated vapor pressure at the temperature. The glycerin produced from plant fats, animal fats or the like or pure product synthesized chemically or a discharge containing glycerin generated at the production of diesel fuel oil from fats, in which the fats are subjected to a transesterification with alcohol in the presence of an alkali catalyst in order to obtain fatty acid ester is preferably used as a starting material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of decomposing organochlorine compounds such as dioxins reductively or catalytically. The organochlorine compounds such as dioxins and o-chloroanisole are decomposed in an aqueous alkali solution in the presence of a reducing agent or a catalyst. The alkali which can be used is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and aqueous ammonia. The reducing agent which can be used is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrosulfite, ascorbic acid, hydrazine, hydrazine hydrate, neutral hydrazine sulfate, hydrazine carbonate, sodium thiosulfate, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, hydroquinone, 4-methylaminophenol sulfate and Rongalite. The catalyst which can be used is at least one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and titanium oxide.

Abstract: Combustible is comminuted and dried, and metal and noncombustible are removed from the coarsely comminuted combustible. Then, the combustible is secondarily comminuted and separated into coarse combustible and fluff which is fine combustible. The coarse combustible of the separated combustible is fed onto a fire grate (2) of a refuse incinerator (1), and burned in flat bed combustion in a primary combustion chamber (4). On the other hand, the fluff is burned in suspended combustion in a secondary combustion chamber (7) with a combustion fluff burner (5) for incinerating combustible. Thus, refuse containing much plastics which is formed into fluff can be efficiently disposed of, whereby the amount of incineration is increased as a whole.

Abstract: There are provided a pretreatment facility (1) and a incineration/melting facility (2). In the incineration/melting facility, an incineration chamber (3) and a melting chamber (5) are integrally formed through a partition wall (7) so that incineration residue can be continuously transferred. Fine crushed material finely crushed by the pretreatment facility (1) is supplied as fuel to a burner (4). This enables it to obtain melting heat source from waste, and to efficiently treat the waste at a low cost by directly superheating and melting non-cooled incineration residue from the incineration chamber (3).

Abstract: A thermal decomposition apparatus for plastics wherein plastics are melted and thermally decomposed, and the resulting decomposition gas is cooled for condensation and recovered in the form of a thermal decomposition oil. The apparatus comprises a thermal decomposition reactor for melting and thermally decomposing the plastics therein, an extraneous matter discharge duct having one end opened in a melt of plastics within the reactor, an extraneous matter collecting container connected to the other end of the discharge duct, and an aspirator for aspirating extraneous matter within the reactor together with the melt through the discharge duct into the container.

Abstract: A thermal decomposition apparatus for plastics wherein plastics are melted and thermally decomposed, and the resulting decomposition gas is cooled for condensation and recovered in the form of a thermal decomposition oil. The apparatus comprises a thermal decomposition reactor for melting and thermally decomposing the plastics therein, an extraneous matter discharge duct having one end opened in a melt of plastics within the reactor, an extraneous matter collecting container connected to the other end of the discharge duct, and an aspirator for aspirating extraneous matter within the reactor together with the melt through the discharge duct into the container.

Abstract: A plasma melting furnace has a melting chamber having an anode torch and a cathode torch made of graphite and having a electric conductor disposed on the bottom thereof. When the furnace is operated, the anode torch, having an inflow of electrons, which forms an unstable plasma arc is contacted with the electric conductor and is not used, while the cathode torch, having an outflow of electrons, which forms a stable plasma arc, is utilized for heating, whereby the furnace can be stably and continuously operated. Thus, since the cathode torch which is used is not heated so much and the anode torch, which is liable to be heated to a great degree, is not used, the electrode consumption rate can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A dry sorting machine having a separating function for removing solids of more than a predetermined size from ash and a drying function for drying the ash, and a magnetic sorting machine for removing metals from the dried ash are arranged in a pretreatment route for the ash to be supplied to the furnace. Further, there is provided a drying air pipe for introducing the high-temperature air heat-recovered from exhaust gases discharged from the ash melting furnace into the dry sorting machine. Thus, by the dry sorting machine having the separating and drying functions, simplification of the ash pretreatment process and reduction of the installation space can be achieved.

Abstract: An ash melting furnace for heating and melting ashes by a burner. The furnace body is formed with a preheating chamber and a melting chamber. Of the bottom wall of the melting chamber (12), the portion closer to the charging port is convex in transverse cross section, while the portion closer to the discharging port is concave in transverse cross section.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting formation of unburned substances in incinerating refuse is practiced with use of an incinerator wherein a peripheral wall defining a combustion chamber is provided with a nozzle for injecting at least one mixing fluid selected from the group consisting of air, water, water vapor, inert gas and combustion exhaust gas into the combustion chamber and producing a swirling stream of the fluid within the chamber. When the refuse is incinerated, the mixing fluid is injected into the combustion chamber from the nozzle, whereby the flame and unburned substances produced within the chamber are efficiently mixed with an excessive portion of air supplied to the chamber and remaining therein to ensure promoted complete combustion.

Abstract: A method comprising injecting a primary fuel and air into a furnace to burn the fuel and form a first-stage combustion zone, the air being supplied at a rate in excess of the stoichiometric rate required for the combustion of the fuel, and injecting a secondary fuel into the furnace around or downstream of the first-stage zone at a rate approximately equal to the stoichiometric rate required for the consumption of the excess oxygen resulting from the combustion in the first-stage zone the fuel being diluted with the surrounding combustion gas and to form a second-stage combustion zone around or downstream of the first-stage zone.

Abstract: A system for burning a liquefied gas comprises a burner gun for spraying the liquefied gas into a combustion space, a pump for feeding the gas under pressure, pipe means connecting the burner gun with the pump, and a flow regulating valve provided in the pipe means, wherein the portion of the pipe means downstream from the valve has its inner diameter so determined in relation with the flow rate of the gas that the state of the gas flow through said portion falls within fog flow zone or bubble flow zone on Baker's two-phase flow diagram.In the system of the invention, unstable combustion of the liquefied gas due to vapor lock in the pipe means can be prevented even when the gas supply pressure is below the vapor pressure of the gas. Besides, the calorific value obtained with the system is variable over a wider range than with a conventional system. Thus the system has a remarkable industrial value.

Abstract: A method comprising injecting a primary fuel and air into a furnace to burn the fuel and form a first-stage combustion zone, the fuel being diluted with surrounding combustion gas and the air being supplied at a rate in excess of the stoichiometric rate required for the combustion of the fuel, and injecting a secondary fuel into the furnace around or downstream of the first-stage zone at a range approximately equal to the stoichiometric rate required for the consumption of the excess oxygen resulting from the combustion in the first-stage zone the fuel being diluted with surrounding combustion gas and to form a second-stage combustion zone around or downstream of the first-stage zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for incinerating a waste gas comprises a combustion furnace main body having a peripheral wall and a hearth and a plurality of flare burners disposed on the hearth. Each of the flare burners including a burner main body having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, at least one of the walls of the burner main body being formed with air intakes, an inwardly projecting flange provided on an upper portion of the peripheral wall of the burner main body, gas-air mixture tubes downwardly extending through the flange and arranged at a given spacing, a waste gas main pipe disposed under the burner main body, waste gas branch pipes extending upward from the waste gas main pipe, and gas nozzles mounted on the upper ends of the waste gas branch pipes respectively and positioned at the lower ends of the gas-air mixture tubes. The waste gas forced out from the nozzles ascends the interior of the mixture tubes along with the surrounding air and the gas-air mixture jets out from the tubes.