# US 4,940,519 A · Detoxification apparatus and method for toxic waste using laser energy and electrolysis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,940,519 A - Document ID: US4940519A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/211,767 - Filed: 1988-06-27 - Granted: 1990-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 1988-06-27 - Inventors: Robert G. Dames - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4940519A ## CPC - F23G 5/085: {High-temperature heating means, e.g. plasma, for partly melting the waste} - B01J 19/121: {Coherent waves, e.g. laser beams (lasers per se H01S3/00)} - C02F 1/30: by irradiation - C02F 11/004: {Sludge detoxification} - C02F 1/461: by electrolysis - C02F 2101/363: {PCB's; PCP's} - F23G 2204/202: Laser - F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract Detoxification apparatus (1) for disposing of toxic waste material by incineration includes a closed reactive vessel (3) having an inlet (5) and an outlet (7). Waste material is introduced into the vessel in a fluid state and a laser (19) produces a high energy laser beam within the vessel. The waste material passes through the beam and the beam energy creates very high temperatures within the material that incinerates the toxic waste. The detoxified material is removed from the vessel for further processing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detoxifying liquid toxic organic waste material by a two step process, the method comprising in a desired order: a first step of subjecting the material to a laser beam by producing a laser beam within a vessel and directing the liquid waste material through the beam as particles, thereby creating sufficiently high temperatures within the material to incinerate the toxic waste, and a second step of electrolyzing said material; and thereafter a step of discharging the detoxified material from the vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of discharging the detoxified material comprises drawing particles by vacuum into an outlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of electrolyzing said material is after the step of subjecting the material to a laser beam, the step of electrolyzing comprising condensing particles which have not been incinerated by said laser beam as a liquid and electrolyzing the condensed liquid waste material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said step of condensing particles as a liquid and electrolyzing the liquid is carried out in the vessel, and including a step of recycling the electrolyzed liquid waste material into the vessel for repetition of the detoxification. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of subjecting the material to a laser beam includes directing the liquid waste material through the beam as a mist of particles. ### Claim 6 Detoxification apparatus for safely disposing of liquid toxic organic waste material by a two step process including high temperature incineration and electrolysis, the apparatus comprising: a closed reactive vessel having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; nozzle means for introducing the liquid waste material into the vessel through the inlet as a mist; laser means for producing a laser beam within the vessel, the liquid waste material mist passing through the beam with the beam energy creating sufficiently high temperatures within the waste material mist to incinerate the toxic waste; electrolysis means for electrolyzing the liquid waste material; and egress means for removing detoxified material from the vessel outlet for further processing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the egress means comprises vacuum means for drawing mist particles into the outlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the vacuum means comprises a vacuum pump ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the vessel has a floor and wherein the outlet is spaced above the floor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the vessel includes a floor and further including a collection bath in the floor for collecting condensed liquid waste material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the bath includes the electrolysis means for electrolyzing the condensed liquid waste material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 including recycling means for recycling condensed liquid waste material from the bath to the inlet to the vessel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 including recycling means for recycling condensed liquid waste material from the bath to the inlet to the vessel. ### Claim 14 Detoxification apparatus for safely disposing of toxic waste material by a two step process, the apparatus comprising: a closed reactive vessel having a floor and at least one inlet and at least one outlet; means for introducing the waste material into the vessel through the inlet in the form of particles; laser means for producing a laser beam within the vessel, the particles passing through the beam with the beam energy creating sufficiently high temperatures within the waste material particles to incinerate some of the toxic waste, at least some of the particles condensing to form a liquid on the floor of the vessel; a collection bath in the floor of the vessel for collecting the condensed liquid material, the bath including electrolysis means for electrolyzing the condensed liquid waste material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 including recycling means for recycling condensed liquid waste material from the bath to the inlet to the vessel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 further including vacuum assisted egress means above the floor of the vessel for removing detoxified material in a particulate form from the vessel.