Toxic remediation system and method

A vapor treatment system comprising an electron generator to output energetic electrons, a reaction chamber in which organic compounds are transformed into environmentally more acceptable chemicals, means to feed vapors for treatment into said reaction chamber, an electron window positioned across the output end of said electron generator and adjacent to said reaction chamber, said electron window permitting passage therethrough of electrons directed toward said reaction chamber from said electron generator to interact with said vapors in said reaction chamber, said chamber having at least an internal surface of a material of a low atomic number, and means to flow an effluent from said reaction chamber.

A treatment system comprising an electron generating source for energetic electrons, a reaction chamber, means to feed vapors including organics in gaseous form to said reaction chamber for treatment therein, an electron window associated with said generating source, means to direct energetic electrons from said source through said window and into said reaction chamber, said electrons and said vapors interacting within said chamber to effect chemical transformations therein, said window having at least an acid resistant surface facing toward said reaction chamber, and means to flow an effluent from said reaction chamber.

A method of transforming environmentally objectionable organic compounds in an influent gaseous flow into environmentally more acceptable chemicals comprising generating electrons, interacting said influent flow including volatile organic compounds with said electrons producing chemical intermediates, and continuing interactions of electrons from said electron beam with said intermediates to transform said intermediates.

A method of transforming environmentally objectionable organic compounds in an influent gaseous flow including chlorinated compounds into environmentally more acceptable chemicals comprising generating electrons, interacting said influent flow with said electrons and in which the interaction of electrons with said influent produces chloride ions and reactive intermediates and in which continuing said interactions between treated-influent and said electrons transform said treated-influent into said environmentally more acceptable chemicals.

The method of transforming organic compounds into environmentally more acceptable elements and compounds comprising creating an influent gaseous flow including said organic compounds, flowing said influent flow into an enclosure, generating an electron beam, directing said electron beam into said enclosure causing said electrons from said beam to interact therein with said influent flow, and flowing said flow as a gaseous effluent flow from said enclosure following interactions therein with said electrons.

A method of transforming organic compounds into environmentally more acceptable elements and compounds comprising creating an influent gaseous flow including said organic compounds, flowing said influent flow into an enclosure, generating an electron beam, directing said electron beam into said enclosure causing said electrons from said beam to interact therein with said influent flow, flowing said flow as a gaseous effluent flow from said enclosure following interactions therein with said electrons for further processing of said effluent and dissipating residual energy of said electrons while minimizing xray generation through the use of a surface material of a low atomic number as the internal surface of said enclosure.

The method of transforming hazardous hydrocarbons into environmentally more acceptable chemicals comprising creating an influent flow including said hydrocarbons, flowing said influent flow into an enclosure, generating an electron beam, directing said electron beam into said enclosure to cause said electrons from said beam to interact therein with said influent flow, and flowing said flow as an effluent flow from said enclosure following interactions therein with said electrons.

A treatment system comprising an electron generating source for energetic electrons, a reaction chamber, means to feed vapors including organic compounds in gaseous form to said reaction chamber for treatment therein, an electron window associated with said generating source, said electron generating source being positioned to direct energetic electrons from said source through said window and into said reaction chamber, said electrons and said vapors interacting within said chamber to effect chemical transformation therein, said window having a protective surface facing toward said reaction chamber, and means to flow an effluent from said reaction chamber.