ORIGINAL RESEARCH
High-Temperature Processing of Asbestos-Cement
Roofing Material in a Plasma Reactor
Marián Lázár1, Mária Čarnogurská1, Tomáš Brestovič1, Natália Jasminská1,
Ľubomíra Kmeťová1, Ľubica Kapustová1, Tomáš Jezný2
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1Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Košice,
Vysokoškolská 4, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia
2Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Košice,
Park Komenského 5, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia
Submission date: 2016-02-01
Final revision date: 2016-04-29
Acceptance date: 2016-04-29
Publication date: 2016-10-05
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(5):2027-2033
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ABSTRACT
This article describes a disposal method for two types of waste in a plasma reactor operating in a
dependent connection, and the subsequent transformation of such waste into a vitrified glassy slag. Those
two wastes are asbestos-cement roofing material and the fly ash from fluidized bed boilers. The first waste
falls into the category of hazardous waste and the latter one in the category of so-called non-hazardous
waste. In the Slovak Republic, both types of waste are currently disposed of through landfilling. Deficiencies
related to landfilling waste are sorted through plasma melting technology in stationary and mobile modes.
Achieving an inert product after the combined plasma melting of the mentioned waste is attained through
the correct mix ratio and temperature. The high temperatures reached in the reaction chamber of the plasma
reactor (up to 1,400ºC) guarantee the recrystallization of the chrysotile fibers represented in the asbestoscement
roofing materials and their transformation into a glass matrix of the emerging products, creating
vitrified slag. This product is predominantly a stable slag oxide (a mixture of SiO2, CaO, Al2O3, and MgO).
It forms at the bottom of the reactor, a liquid phase that, following a regulated cooling phase, possesses
properties suitable for further use in the production of insulation materials and ceramic products.