Waste treatment apparatus and method

Abstract

In apparatus and method for waste treatment by pyrolysis, treated waste is flushed through a grid ( 18 ) to trap recyclable material in the pyrolysis chamber ( 24 ). Pyrolysis is carried out at a temperature of from 400-700° C. and off gases are dissolved in a solution in scrubber ( 13 ) for disposal in a water course. Water is introduced into the chamber as superheated steam via pipes ( 5 ) so as both to flush away treated material and clean the chamber. Recyclable waste is separated from non-recyclable by treating non-recyclable waste by pyrolysis, and flushing treated non-recyclable waste away through liquid exhaust ( 8 ). Apparatus is made as a modular, free-standing unit and comprises plugs for connection to an electricity supply, to a water supply, and to a sewage system ( 16 ) and has a chamber with a volume in the range 0.01-0.5 m 3 .

1 - 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . A process for waste treatment comprising:
 introducing waste into a chamber,   heating the waste to an elevated temperature to effect pyrolysis of the waste,   introducing oxygen into the chamber to effect combustion of the waste, and   flushing the combusted waste from the chamber with water,   wherein the temperature to effect pyrolysis is from 400-700° C. and the temperature to effect combustion is at least 400° C.   
     
     
         83 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the temperature to effect pyrolysis is from 500-600° C. 
     
     
         84 . The process of  claim 83 , wherein the temperature to effect pyrolysis is about 550° C. 
     
     
         85 . The process of  claim 82 , comprising holding the waste at the elevated temperature for from 10-90 minutes. 
     
     
         86 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the elevated temperature is held for from 20-60 minutes. 
     
     
         87 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the elevated temperature is held for from 25-40 minutes. 
     
     
         88 . The process of  claim 82 , comprising holding the waste at the elevated temperature until 50% or more of the waste is degraded by pyrolysis. 
     
     
         89 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the temperature to effect combustion is at least 450° C. 
     
     
         90 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the temperature to effect combustion is at least 500° C. 
     
     
         91 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the temperature to effect combustion is not more than 800° C. 
     
     
         92 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the temperature to effect combustion is not more than 750° C. 
     
     
         93 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the temperature to effect combustion is not more than 700° C. 
     
     
         94 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the combusted waste is flushed through a grid to trap recyclable material. 
     
     
         95 . The process of  claim 94 , wherein the grid is moveable, and the process further comprises moving the grid between a first position in which the grid traps the recyclable material and a second position in which the recyclable material can be transferred into a receptacle. 
     
     
         96 . The process of  claim 82 , comprising flushing the combusted waste from the chamber into the sewage system. 
     
     
         97 . The process of  claim 82 , wherein the water enters the chamber as superheated steam. 
     
     
         98 . A pyrolysis apparatus comprising:
 a sealable chamber,   a waste treatment zone in the chamber,   a port for introducing waste into the chamber,   a port for the exit of treated waste,   a heating element, and   a grid between the waste treatment zone and the exit port,   wherein the apparatus is adapted to carry out the process of  claim 82 .   
     
     
         99 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein pipework is arranged in the walls of the chamber so that in use water entering the chamber is heated by the chamber walls and enters the chamber as superheated steam. 
     
     
         100 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , wherein the chamber comprises an output for connection to a sewer so that the treated waste can be flushed into the sewage system. 
     
     
         101 . The apparatus of  claim 98 , further comprising a tank to contain a gas treatment solution, an exhaust port for exit of gases from the chamber, and a conduit arranged in combination with the tank and the exhaust port to contact the gases with the solution.