Steam plasma arc hydrolysis of ozone depleting substances

2- A process according to claim 1, wherein the steam plasma is created by a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, whereby an electric arc created between metallic electrodes and superheated steam forms a high temperature plasma plume at an exit end of the plasma torch, which is rich in reactive hydrogen and hydroxyl ions

3- A process according to claim 2, wherein the plasma torch uses a small amount of an inert gas such as nitrogen, argon or helium or a mixture thereof as the shroud gas to protect the back electrode from excessive oxidation.

4- A process according to claim 1, wherein the precursor material is hydrolyzed at high temperatures using the reactive hydroxyl and hydrogen ions of the steam plasma plume in the high temperature zone of the reactor.

5- A process according to claim 1, wherein the gas mixture exiting the hydrolysis zone of the reactor is combusted at medium temperatures in the combustion zone of the reactor in an oxygen rich environment wherein the necessary combustion oxygen or air is injected.

6- A process according to claim 1, wherein the resulting process stream after combustion is rapidly quenched using a fine spray of cold water to avoid formation of any unwanted by-products.

7- A process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrolysis reactor includes three zones namely a conical converging, high temperature, steam hydrolysis zone which provides the necessary residence time for complete hydrolysis of the precursor material, followed by a narrow tubular zone which provides the necessary turbulence and additional residence time for the reactions and a conical diverging, medium temperature, combustion zone which provides the residence time for complete combustion of the process stream.

8- A process according to claim 1, wherein the plasma plume from the plasma torch extends into the first zone of the reactor and is contained in the reactor.

9- A process according to claim 1, wherein the precursor material is injected into the core of the steam plasma plume adjacent to the steam plasma torch and in between the plasma torch and the hydrolysis zone of the reactor, using a gas vortex creating turbulence and sufficient mixing of the precursor material with the core plasma plume.

10- A process according to claim 1, wherein, the precursor material is injected into the core either as gas or as a fine liquid spray or as fine solid particles.

11- A process according to claim 1, wherein reactive hydrogen and hydroxyl steam plasma exist in the hydrolysis zone of the reactor.

12- A process according to claim 1, wherein an oxygen starved environment exists in the hydrolysis zone of the reactor and an oxygen rich environment exists in the combustion zone of the reactor.

13- A process according to claim 1, wherein the reactant stream exiting the combustion zone of the reactor is rapidly quenched by a fine spray of cold water adjacent to the exit of the combustion zone to avoid formation of unwanted by-products.

14- An apparatus for carrying out the process of claim 1, including a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, an externally cooled three zone steam plasma reactor including a corrosive resistant refractory lining, means for attaching the plasma torch to the reactor, means for introducing the precursor material in the form of gas vortex or fine liquid spray or solid particles into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone of the reactor, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor.

15- An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the plasma torch includes a setup of metallic electrodes namely cathode, ignition anode and working anode arranged in a spaced relationship such that a direct current electric arc exists between the cathode and the working anode and uses an inert gas, such as helium, nitrogen, argon or a mixture thereof, as the shroud gas and uses steam as the main plasma forming gas and has a plasma plume exiting at the anode end.

16- An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the means for quenching is located at the exit end of the reactor, and produces a spray of cold water through which the process stream exiting the reactor passes.

17- An apparatus for the destruction of a precursor material, comprising a reactor including a high temperature zone and a combustion zone, the high temperature zone being adapted for hydrolyzing the precursor material, the combustion zone being adapted to effect medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream where combustion oxygen or air is injected, and a quenching means is provided at an exit end of the reactor for quenching of the resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products.

18- An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the high temperature zone of the reactor includes a conical converging, high temperature, steam hydrolysis zone which provides a necessary residence time for complete hydrolysis of the precursor material, wherein a narrow tubular zone is provided between the high temperature zone and combustion zones for providing a necessary turbulence and additional residence time for the reactions, and wherein the combustion zone of the reactor includes a conical diverging, medium temperature, combustion zone which provides a residence time for complete combustion of the process stream.

19- An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein there are provided a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, means for attaching the plasma torch to the reactor, means for introducing the precursor material in the form of gas vortex or fine liquid spray or solid particles into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone of the reactor, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor.

20- An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the three zone steam plasma reactor is externally cooled and includes a corrosive resistant refractory lining.

21- An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the plasma torch includes a setup of metallic electrodes namely cathode, ignition anode and working anode arranged in a spaced relationship such that a direct current electric arc exists between the cathode and the working anode and uses an inert gas, such as helium, nitrogen, argon or a mixture thereof, as the shroud gas and uses steam as the main plasma forming gas and has a plasma plume exiting at the anode end.

22- An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the quenching means produces a spray of cold water through which the process stream exiting the reactor passes.