Molten metal reactor and treatment method for treating gaseous materials and materials which include volatile components

A method of treating waste material, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) admitting waste material into a reaction chamber containing a volume of molten reactant metal;
• (b) in a gas containment area in the reaction chamber, containing gases released from the molten reactant metal, the gases including both unreacted gases and reaction product gases, the gas containment area being in contact with a reaction surface of the molten reactant metal;
• (c) mixing the molten reactant metal at one or more points within the reaction chamber to replace molten reactant metal at the reaction surface with fresh molten reactant metal from an area of the reaction chamber below the reaction surface;
• and
• (d) mixing the gases in the containment area to enhance contact between the reaction surface and the unreacted gases.

In a molten metal reactor having a reaction chamber containing a volume of molten reactant metal for reacting with waste material introduced into the reaction chamber, the improvements comprising:

• (a) a gas containment area for containing gases released from the molten reactant metal, the gases including unreacted gases and reaction product gases;
• (b) a mixing arrangement for mixing the molten metal at a surface thereof which defines a boundary of the gas containment area, the mixing bringing fresh molten reactant metal to the surface;
• and
• (c) a reaction product removal arrangement for receiving reaction products from the reaction chamber, and containing the reaction products in an isolated position to be removed from the molten metal reactor.

A waste treatment apparatus comprising:

• (a) an elongated reaction chamber, the elongated reaction chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, and also including a gas containment boundary extending along its length;
• (b) a heater for heating a reactant metal to a molten state;
• (c) a circulating arrangement for circulating molten reactant metal through the reaction chamber in the direction from the inlet end to the outlet end;
• (d) a mixing arrangement for mixing molten reactant metal within the reaction chamber and for mixing gases contained within the reaction chamber;
• (e) a waste input arrangement for admitting waste material into the reaction chamber;
• (f) a reaction product removal arrangement for receiving reaction products from the reaction chamber;
• and
• (g) pressurizing means for maintaining a gas containment pressure within the reaction chamber.