Abstract: The invention introduces new glasses, and new methods for making glass, glass-ceramics, and/or ceramic articles from inorganic compounds extracted from organic waste streams, including food waste streams, agricultural waste streams, and other organic waste streams with high inorganic oxide content. The organic waste stream can also be extended to human and animal wastes. These glasses will have the same, or improved physical, chemical, and mechanical properties as glasses made from mined minerals, however, the methodology disclosed in this invention will produce a renewable and sustainable inorganic product manufactured from organic waste streams.

Abstract: Methods of creating a batch of recycled glass from mixed color glass cullet. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at a glass plant a weight and color composition percentage of a first batch of mixed color cullet. The glass plant also receives a weight and color composition percentage of a second batch of mixed color cullet. The weight and color composition percentage of the first batch and the second batch are combined to generate a combined weight and composition percentage. The combined weight and composition are percentage are used to generate, automatically at a glass plant, a formulation to produce glass of a desired color.

Abstract: Incinerator ashes, which is obtained after treating municipal solid waste, incinerator ashes or its plasma vitrified slag is made into mineral fibers. Cullet is added during manufacturing the mineral fibers for conditioning. The mineral fibers thus obtained have a good strength and could raise value of recycled product. In addition, it could reduce impact of the incinerator ashes to the environment and environmental protection is achieved.

Abstract: In a device for oxidizing, reducing, calcining, sintering or melting dusts such as, e.g., furnace or steel dusts, marl and lime dust mixtures, shredder light fractions, mineral dusts such as, e.g., glass dusts, cement kiln bypass dusts, dry sewage sludge, paper slurries or oil-containing grinding dust suspensions, using a dosing cyclone into which the dusts are charged and to which a tangential connector for feeding carrier gases is connected, and a combustion chamber following the dosing cyclone in the axial direction, wherein fuel and optionally additional carrier gas are injected into the combustion chamber coaxially with the discharge opening of the cyclone, a lance is arranged in the interior of the dosing cyclone, coaxially with the discharge opening of the dosing cyclone, for the introduction of liquid substances, substances dissolved in liquids or suspended in gases, or gaseous oxidizable substances and, in particular, fuels.

Abstract: A current conducting melting vessel within which glass can be melted is provided. At least two induction heating coils are provided at selected locations proximate to the melting vessel. Power is selectively supplied to the coils to thereby selectively energise the coils so that the mutual induction of current in a non-energised heating coil adjacent to an energised heating coil is prevented via a switching element in power supply circuitry associated with the non-energised coil.

Abstract: A gas bubbler device provides enhanced recirculation of molten glass within a glass melter apparatus. The bubbler device includes a tube member disposed within a pool of molten glass contained in the melter. The tube member includes a lower opening through which the molten glass enters and upper slots disposed close to (above or below) the upper surface of the pool of molten glass and from which the glass exits. A gas (air) line is disposed within the tube member and extends longitudinally thereof. A gas bubble distribution device, which is located adjacent to the lower end of the tube member and is connected to the lower end of the gas line, releases gas through openings therein so as to produce gas bubbles of a desired size in the molten glass and in a distributed pattern across the tube member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing mineral wool, whereby a cracking catalyst having an aluminum oxide content of at least 35% by weight is used as a base material or aggregate. Said catalyst materials produce waste products which are difficult to eliminate in the chemical industry and which can be reused in the production of mineral fibers and can be used in an economical and resource sparing manner.

Abstract: Glass produced on basis of a raw material in form of a mixture of mainly mineral-containing components comprising sludge from e.g. purification plants and waste products from the industry, and having a determined chemical composition adjusted on basis of knowledge of the chemical composition of the mineral-containing components forming part of the glass. The glass is produced from the raw material which after mineralization is pressed into briquettes that are hardened and subsequently melted in e.g. a blast furnace under oxygen supply, and where the melt is quenched and dried. Large amounts of waste products and waste substances that are normally deposited either treated or untreated can be reused and utilized at production of the glass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing mineral wool, whereby a cracking catalyst having an aluminum oxide content of at least 35 wt % is used as a base material or aggregate. Said catalyst materials produce waste products which are difficult to eliminate in the chemical industry and which can be reused in the production of mineral fibers and can be used in an economical and resource sparing manner.

Abstract: A method and system for feeding and burning pulverized fuel, such as petroleum coke, in a glass melting furnace, which includes a glass melting and a plurality of burners associated with a pair of sealed regenerative chambers disposed side-by-side which act as heat exchangers, the burners are arranged in a series of ports that are associated with the glass melting region of the furnace. The system includes means for supplying the pulverized fuel by each one of the burners for melting glass raw materials. The emissions of flue gases produced by the combustion process of the fuel in the furnace are controlled in order to maintain clean the flue gases and for reducing the emission of impurities from the fuel such as SOx, NOx and particulates.

Abstract: An automated method for recycling mixed colored cullet glass (i.e., broken pieces of glass of mixed colors and types) into new glass products. A computer controlled process identifies the virgin glass raw materials, the desired target glass properties, the composition of a batch of mixed colored cullet, and the quantity of cullet to be used in the glass melt, and the computer controlled process automatically determines the proper amounts of raw materials to add to the batch of mixed colored cullet so that recycled glass is produced having the desired coloring oxides, redox agents, and glass structural oxides in the proper proportion. The recycled glass is then used to make glass products such as beer bottles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of producing glass materials wherein outgassing materials are mixed, melted, outgassed and formed into frits, and the frits are then mixed with essentially non-outgassing materials and melted to form the glass. Because the frits are already outgassed, lass gas is generated in the final glass melting step, thus foaming and scum forming are reduced. As a result, heat transfer efficiency in the glass furnace is improved and lower melting temperature is achieved. The process can be carried out in any type of glass furnaces and is particularly suitable for high silica glass compositions.

Abstract: Rock fibres are made from a melt formed from a blend of low and high halogen waste materials. 80 to 98% are low halogen materials (containing less than 0.5 wt. % halogen) and 2 to 20% are high halogen materials (containing at least 1 wt. % halogen).

Abstract: The present invention provides a two stage process of thermal separation of CFCs and HCFCs followed by vitrification of the waste into a commercially viable glass. In the first stage, the hydrogenated compounds are reacted at elevated temperature with water and a metal oxide such as calcium oxide to form a halide salt and carbon dioxide. In the second stage of the process, the brine slag is reacted at elevated temperature with the carbon dioxide from stage one and glass-forming raw materials such as silicon dioxide to produce a glass. The final glass product incorporates the halide into the glass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is taught for preheating of glass batch materials by direct contact with glass furnace exhaust gases. Furnace gases 15 flow through a batch hopper 1 in horizontal tunnels formed by open bottom tubes 6, with a free surface of batch forming the bottom portion of the tunnel. The tubes are electrically grounded and a high voltage discharge electrode 18 is located axially in each tunnel. The corona discharge from the electrode acts to retain batch and prevent it's entrainment into the flowing gases. Particulate matter from the gases is simultaneously precipitated onto the batch surface. Acidic gas components such as SO2, HCl, and HF are chemically reacted with batch constituents, thereby removing them from the gas stream. Heat is transferred from the gases to the batch by direct contact. Cooled gases 16 exit the hopper, cleaned of pollutants to levels in compliance with strict environmental regulations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of processing organic waste (D) in divided solid and/or liquid form, the method being implemented in a single reactor (1) containing a bath of molten gas (V) surmounted by a gas phase (G), the method comprising incinerating said waste (D) in the presence of oxygen at the surface (S) of said bath of molten glass (V), and vitrifying said incinerated waste (D) in said bath of molten glass (V). In characteristic manner, in said method, said waste (D) is introduced into said reactor (1) in association with dual cooling; the device (5) for feeding said reactor (1) with said waste (D) is cooled on its side adjacent to the gas phase (G), advantageously by the circulation of at least one is cooling fluid maintained at a temperature higher than the dew point of said gas phase (G), and it is also cooled, advantageously independently, on its side adjacent to the incoming waste (D).

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for vitrifying nuclear waste comprises a tunable microwave cavity connected by a first wave guide to a source of microwave energy; cooling coils for cooling the exterior of the cavity; a hopper for loading particulate fusible material to the interior of the cavity; within the cavity a crucible made of melted and re-solidified fusible particulate material; an exit-chamber connected by a second waveguide to a second microwave source; and a pipe for supplying argon gas to the exit chamber so that a plasma torch can be generated. The separating of the crucible form the cavity walls by unmelted material gives significant advantages in case of cleaning and reduced energy consumption.

Abstract: The Advanced Vitrification System (AVS) Melting Process is a process for vitrification of waste in a disposable canister. In the process, waste is dropped into the disposable canister from the top. While the waste is being dropped into the disposable canister, radiant energy is added to the space above the waste in the canister, such that the temperature of the gaseous atmosphere above the waste is higher than the melting point of the waste. Since only the space above the waste in the canister is heated, the temperature of the melt decreases with increasing depth of the waste in the canister. The decreasing temperature permits a small surface melt volume to be maintained and solidified product to form with increasing depth. The process continues until the disposable canister is filled, then all heating is stopped and the disposable canister allowed to cool to ambient temperature.

Abstract: Glass produced on basis of a raw material in form of a mixture of mainly mineral-containing components comprising sludge from e.g. purification plants and waste products from the industry, and having a determined chemical composition adjusted on basis of knowledge of the chemical composition of the mineral-containing components forming part of the glass. The glass is produced from the raw material which after mineralization is pressed into briquettes that are hardened and subsequently melted in e.g. a blast furnace under oxygen supply, and where the melt is quenched and dried. Large amounts of waste products and waste substances that are normally deposited either treated or untreated can be reused and utilized at production of the glass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vitrification process for a pulverulent material and an apparatus for implementing said process. The process consists in introducing the pulverulent material into the fusion area of a furnace via injection means, where it is melted by means of at least one plasma torch to obtain a melt, and where the melt is removed from the furnace via a casting zone, the material being introduced laterally into the fusion zone in a direction comprising a horizontal component, and the melt being removed from the furnace by overflowing via the said casting zone, more or less along said horizontal component and away from the means for injecting the material into the furnace, in relation to the fusion zone.

Abstract: The method for converting harmful polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) oil into a resource includes chemical decomposition treatment, pelletizing treatment and thermal decomposition treatment. The chemical decomposition treatment uses a decomposing agent including calcium oxide powder coated with a vegetable oil and quartz porphyry powder, causes a decomposing action of CaO and far-infrared rays emitted from quartz porphyry, to act onto polychlorinated biphenyl oil, and decomposes the polychlorinated biphenyl oil into powder including a metal salt. The pelletizing treatment hardens the powder into pellets. The thermal decomposition treatment melts the pellets and glass cullet at a temperature above the thermal decomposition temperature of the PCBs for molten integration of the pellets and glass cullet as slag. The slag is cooled and the solid substance can be widely used as various types of construction materials and agricultural materials.

Abstract: A process of making vitrified waste in a crucible and inserting the crucible and vitrified waste into an outer container after vitrification. The outer container is then sealed.

Abstract: Apparatus suitable for vitrifying nuclear waste comprises a tunable microwave cavity connected by a first wave guide to a source of microwave energy; cooling coils for cooling the exterior of the cavity; a hopper for loading particulate fusible material to the interior of the cavity; within the cavity a crucible made of melted and re-solidified fusible particulate material; an exit-chamber connected by a second waveguide to a second microwave source; and a pipe for supplying argon gas to the exit chamber so that a plasma torch can be generated. The separating of the crucible form the cavity walls by unmelted material gives significant advantages in case of cleaning and reduced energy consumption.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to transform large quantities of waste glass into useful ceramic products by a low-cost manufacturing process. The major steps of the method consist of dry preparation of glass powder, granulation with a non-aqueous organic binder system, dry pressing with adequate green strength, and firing at low temperatures. Water and clay are not required in the processing, which eliminates problems that were encountered in the past. Only one firing step is needed with a low peak firing temperature of about 750° C. The method conserves energy and natural resources compared to clay-based traditional ceramic manufacturing. High-quality impervious ceramic products with only a small amount of porosity can be produced by the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to the technology of manufacturing mineral fibres, glass wool or rock wool and, more specifically, to the recycling of scrap in the manufacturing plants.

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: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus to cast and form slag directly from the molten state into crystalline or amorphous products suitable for use as decorative and structural building and construction materials. Molten slag and additives are refined at high temperature in a treatment furnace for a period of hours. The eventual entrapped gas content is controlled using a variety of methods, such as vacuum pressures and bottom stirring with inert gas. The molten slag is cast directly into moulds, and these moulds form the slag into any shape desired. The formed products are immediately introduced into a heat treatment furnace at temperatures at or above the glass transition temperature (GTT) for the case of crystalline products, or just below the GTT for amorphous products. The product is thermally cycled over a period of hours to relieve thermal stresses during cooling to ambient temperatures.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of vitrifying waste and for lowering the melting point of glass forming systems by including lithia formers in the glass forming composition in significant amounts, typically from about 0.16 wt % to about 11 wt %, based on the total glass forming oxides. The lithia is typically included as a replacement for alkali oxide glass formers that would normally be present in a particular glass forming system. Replacement can occur on a mole percent or weight percent basis, and typically results in a composition wherein lithia forms about 10 wt % to about 100 wt % of the alkali oxide glass formers present in the composition. The present invention also relates to the high lithia glass compositions formed by these methods.

Abstract: An automated method for recycling mixed colored cutlet glass (i.e., broken pieces of glass of mixed colors and types) into new glass products. A computer controlled process identifies the virgin glass raw materials, the desired target glass properties, the composition of a batch of mixed colored cullet, and the quantity of cullet to be used in the glass melt, and the computer controlled process automatically determines the proper amounts of raw materials to add to the batch of mixed colored cullet so that recycled glass is produced having the desired coloring oxides, redox agents, and glass structural oxides in the proper proportion. The recycled glass is then used to make glass products such as beer bottles.

Abstract: A process for recycling trash and obtaining a glassy vitreous product by mixing trash with a vitrifying composition comprising 30% Sodium Sulphate, 7% Quartz, 20% Calcium Carbonate, 23% Sodium Carbonate, 13% Organic Sulphate (consisting of 20% Sodium Sulphate and 80% Carbon Hydrates) and 7% Calcium Fluor, the composition comprising the 10-20 weight percentage of the mixture and thermochemically transforming the mixture, the product being used in multiple applications. The glassy product obtained by the process is also provided by the invention.