How Plasma Arc could sabotage Zero Waste in Capannori How Plasma Arc could sabotage Zero Waste in...

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How Plasma Arc could How Plasma Arc could sabotagesabotage

Zero Waste in CapannoriZero Waste in Capannori

Dr Paul ConnettDr Paul ConnettProfessore Emerito di ChimicaProfessore Emerito di Chimica

St Lawrence University, Canton, NYSt Lawrence University, Canton, NY

[email protected]

www.FluorideALERT.org

Capannori, Sept 20, 2009Capannori, Sept 20, 2009

•Grazie a Rossano Ercolini Grazie a Rossano Ercolini (Ambiente e Futuro)(Ambiente e Futuro) per avere organizzato per avere organizzato la mia la mia # 42# 42 visita in Italia visita in Italia

Rossano Ercolini Rossano Ercolini

AmbienteAmbientefuturofuturo@[email protected]

Paul ConnettPaul Connettha parlatoha parlato

in in 172 citta’172 citta’

San FranciscoSan Francisco Popolazione = 850.000Popolazione = 850.000 Carenza di spazio Carenza di spazio 50% raccolta differenziata entro il 200050% raccolta differenziata entro il 2000 63% raccolta differenziata entro il 200463% raccolta differenziata entro il 2004 70% raccolta differenziata entro il 200870% raccolta differenziata entro il 2008 72% raccolta differenziata entro il 200972% raccolta differenziata entro il 2009 75% raccolta differenziata entro il 2010 75% raccolta differenziata entro il 2010

(obiettivo)(obiettivo) Zero RifiutiZero Rifiuti (o molto vicino!) entro il 2020 (o molto vicino!) entro il 2020

Recycled Recycled PaperPaper21%21%

Glass and Plastic BottlesGlass and Plastic BottlesAluminum and Steel Aluminum and Steel

CansCans4%4%

Construction andConstruction andDemolition WasteDemolition Waste

25%25%

OtherOther15%15%

Food Food ScrapsScraps

20%20%

Plant TrimmingsPlant Trimmings5%5%

Compostable Compostable PaperPaper

& Fiber 10%& Fiber 10%

courtesy of Jack Macy, SF Dept. of Environmentcourtesy of Jack Macy, SF Dept. of Environment

San Francisco’s Approach San Francisco’s Approach for for

Easy High Easy High DiversionDiversion

ItaliaItalia

Oltre Oltre 2000 2000 Comuni in Comuni in Italia stanno ottenendo Italia stanno ottenendo oltre il 50%oltre il 50% di di conversione dalla conversione dalla raccolta raccolta porta a portaporta a porta

Porta a PortaPorta a Porta

Si risparmia Si risparmia Crea lavoroCrea lavoro E’ piu’ conveniente per I cittadini E’ piu’ conveniente per I cittadini Scompaiano le campane e I Scompaiano le campane e I

contenitorri dalle stradecontenitorri dalle strade E’ piu’ attraente per il turismoE’ piu’ attraente per il turismo

ItaliaItalia

Novara Novara (popolazione = (popolazione = 100,000) ha raggiunto il 100,000) ha raggiunto il 70% 70% in soli 18 mesi !in soli 18 mesi !

ItaliaItalia

Nella provincia di Nella provincia di Treviso Treviso (Priula Consorzio) (Priula Consorzio) 22 22 Comuni hanno raggiunto il Comuni hanno raggiunto il 76%76% di conversione in 5 di conversione in 5 annianni

RISULTATI QUANTITATIVIRISULTATI QUANTITATIVIAUMENTO % RACCOLTA AUMENTO % RACCOLTA

DIFFERENZIATADIFFERENZIATA

RISULTATI QUANTITATIVIRISULTATI QUANTITATIVIAUMENTO % RACCOLTA AUMENTO % RACCOLTA

DIFFERENZIATADIFFERENZIATA>80%>80%

ItaliaItalia

Villafranca d’Asti Villafranca d’Asti ((popolazione = 30,000) popolazione = 30,000) ha raggiunto l’ ha raggiunto l’ 85%85% (Roberto Cavallo)(Roberto Cavallo)

ItaliaItalia

Provincia di NapoliProvincia di Napoli San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio,

Volla, Meta di Sorrento, Vico Volla, Meta di Sorrento, Vico Equense e Sorrento Equense e Sorrento > 70%> 70%

Quartiere Colli Aminei Quartiere Colli Aminei = 73% = 73% (in tre mesi!)(in tre mesi!)

Nel Feb 24, 2007 Nel Feb 24, 2007 Capannori (vicino Capannori (vicino Lucca) e` diventata la Lucca) e` diventata la prima citta` a prima citta` a dichiarare una dichiarare una strategia rifiuti zero strategia rifiuti zero 20202020 Rossano Ercolini Rossano Ercolini [email protected]

338-28-66-215338-28-66-215

FRAZIONE RESIDUA - - Capannori Porta a Capannori Porta a PortaPorta

1.1. Tessili e cuoloTessili e cuolo 16.52 %16.52 %

2.2. PannoliniPannolini 13.95 %13.95 %

3.3. Materiale organico da cucinaMateriale organico da cucina 10.56 %10.56 %

4.4. Altra plastica: non imballoAltra plastica: non imballo 9.98 %9.98 %

5.5. Imballaggi cellulosici Imballaggi cellulosici poliaccopiatipoliaccopiati

8.05 %8.05 %

6.6. Imballaggi poliaccopiati in Imballaggi poliaccopiati in plasticaplastica

7.45 %7.45 %

7.7. Imballaggi flessibili in plasticaImballaggi flessibili in plastica 6.81 %6.81 %

8.8. Materiale organico da Materiale organico da giardinogiardino

4.64 %4.64 %

9. 9. Imballaggi rigidi in plastica Imballaggi rigidi in plastica (non (non bottiglie)bottiglie)

3.23 %3.23 %

1100

Giornali (quotidiani e riviste)Giornali (quotidiani e riviste) 2.54 %2.54 %

• FRAZIONE RESIDUA – – CapannoriCapannori

2.54 %Giornali (quotidiani e riviste)10

3.23 %Imballaggi rigidi in plastica (non bottiglie)

9.

4.64 %Materiale organico da giardino8.

6.81 %Imballaggi flessibili in plastica7.

7.45 %Imballaggi poliaccopiati in plastica

6.

8.05 %Imballaggi cellulosici poliaccopiati

5.

9.98 %Altra plastica: non imballo4.

10.56 %Materiale organico da cucina3.

13.95 %Pannolini2.

16.52 %Tessili e cuoio1.

Questa e’ l’analisi del Questa e’ l’analisi del 17%17% che rimane dopo la che rimane dopo la

separazione dell’ separazione dell’ 83%83% del materiale del materiale

raccolto porta a portaraccolto porta a porta

Come gestiamo la frazione Come gestiamo la frazione residua: un momento residua: un momento cruciale della filosofia cruciale della filosofia Rifiuti ZeroRifiuti Zero

L’incenerimento cerca di far L’incenerimento cerca di far sparire la frazione residuasparire la frazione residua

Rifiuti Zero 2020Rifiuti Zero 2020 ha bisogno di ha bisogno di rendere i residui MOLTO VISIBILI, rendere i residui MOLTO VISIBILI, perché…perché…

Frazione Residua Frazione Residua = cattiva = cattiva progettazione industriale eprogettazione industriale e

Cattive decisioni d’acquistoCattive decisioni d’acquisto

Plasma arc plantsPlasma arc plants are part of family of technologies are part of family of technologies competing with mass burn incinerators (gasification, competing with mass burn incinerators (gasification, pyrolysis and plasma arc/torch) with very little pyrolysis and plasma arc/torch) with very little proven commercial track recordproven commercial track record

All claim NOT to be incinerators, but all involve two All claim NOT to be incinerators, but all involve two stages: stages:

1) the conversion of solid waste into a gas, 1) the conversion of solid waste into a gas, 2) the burning of the gas, producing many of the 2) the burning of the gas, producing many of the

same problems as a regular incinerator same problems as a regular incinerator So the more appropriate names would be:So the more appropriate names would be: Gasifying Gasifying incineratorincinerator PyrolyzingPyrolyzing incinerator incinerator Plasma arcPlasma arc incinerator incinerator

PLASMA ARC TECHNOLOGY

CHUTE

SECONDARYCHAMBER

TURBINE

BOILER

ELECTRICITY

STEAM

TRASH

BOTTOM ASH FLY ASH

TEMP< 200oC

SEMI-DRYSCRUBBER

FABRIC FILTER

WET SCRUBBER

DE-NOX

ACTIVATEDCHARCOAL

Ca(OH) 2 SUSPENSION

AMMONIAINJECTION

GRATES

For every 3-4 tons of trash you get about one ton of ashFor every 3-4 tons of trash you get about one ton of ash

Paragone tra Paragone tra Torcia al plasmaTorcia al plasma con l’incenerimento di massa con l’incenerimento di massa

Incenerimento di massaIncenerimento di massa NON SOSTENIBILENON SOSTENIBILE Perche’ distrugge Perche’ distrugge

risorse di materiali risorse di materiali limitatelimitate

Torcia al plasmaTorcia al plasma NON SOSTENIBILENON SOSTENIBILE Perche’ distrugge risorse Perche’ distrugge risorse

di materiali limitatedi materiali limitate

Incenerimento conIncenerimento con Torcia al Torcia al plasmaplasma - -problemi praticiproblemi pratici

Il problema con tutte le Il problema con tutte le tecnologie di gassificazione tecnologie di gassificazione aumentano se si passa da aumentano se si passa da progetti pilota su piccola scala progetti pilota su piccola scala a progetti industriali su scala a progetti industriali su scala commerciale.commerciale.

IncenerimentoIncenerimento con Torcia al con Torcia al plasmaplasma - - chimici constraintschimici constraints

Non c’e’ magia che annulli la chimica di base.Non c’e’ magia che annulli la chimica di base. Quello che entra = quello che esceQuello che entra = quello che esce Abbiamo bisogno di attenti studi di bilanci di massa per Abbiamo bisogno di attenti studi di bilanci di massa per

vedere dove finiscono il vedere dove finiscono il mmercurio, l’arsenico, il mmercurio, l’arsenico, il cadmio, il piombo, il cloro, il fluoro, e il bromo cadmio, il piombo, il cloro, il fluoro, e il bromo :nei :nei fanghi, nei prodotti metallici, nelle ceneri leggere o fanghi, nei prodotti metallici, nelle ceneri leggere o nell’aria. nell’aria.

Il problema finale riguarda la tematica delle Il problema finale riguarda la tematica delle nanoparticlesnanoparticles. Al momento queste . Al momento queste non vengono ne’ non vengono ne’ regolamentate, ne monitorateregolamentate, ne monitorate ma hanno delle ma hanno delle conseguenze sulla salute molto gravi..conseguenze sulla salute molto gravi..

CHUTE

SECONDARYCHAMBER

TURBINE

BOILER

ELECTRICITY

STEAM

TRASH

BOTTOM ASH FLY ASH

TEMP< 200oC

SEMI-DRYSCRUBBER

FABRIC FILTER

WET SCRUBBER

DE-NOX

ACTIVATEDCHARCOAL

Ca(OH) 2 SUSPENSION

AMMONIAINJECTION

GRATES

Ogni 3-4 ton di rifiuti ottieni circa 1 ton di ceneriOgni 3-4 ton di rifiuti ottieni circa 1 ton di ceneri

PLASCOPLASCO

Has built a 100 ton per day pilot Has built a 100 ton per day pilot plant in Ottawa, Canadaplant in Ottawa, Canada

Is aggressively marketing Is aggressively marketing technology all over Canada, US technology all over Canada, US and some other countriesand some other countries

PLASCO CEO Rod PLASCO CEO Rod Bryden says:Bryden says: 1) Filter ash goes back into furnace.1) Filter ash goes back into furnace. 2) System produces no dioxin 2) System produces no dioxin

because no oxygen available.because no oxygen available. 3) System destroys nanoparticles.3) System destroys nanoparticles. 4) Slag to be used in asphalt & 4) Slag to be used in asphalt &

concrete.concrete. 5) Salt to be used on roads.5) Salt to be used on roads. 6) Sulfur to be used in agriculture6) Sulfur to be used in agriculture

PLASCO plant in PLASCO plant in Ottawa a fiasco!Ottawa a fiasco! When officials from Los Angeles When officials from Los Angeles

visited the plant it wasn’t workingvisited the plant it wasn’t working Operators tried to start plant three Operators tried to start plant three

times without successtimes without success L.A. dropped plant from its plan – L.A. dropped plant from its plan –

because it hasn’t operated for 1000 because it hasn’t operated for 1000 hours in a one year periodhours in a one year period

Other communities in California and Other communities in California and British Columbia have cancelled British Columbia have cancelled projectproject

PLASCOPLASCO

SolidSolid convertedconverted

to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO

At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C


to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas


to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

SolidSolid


to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

SolidSolid

Vitrified slagVitrified slag


to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

SolidSolid

Vitrified slagVitrified slag

External External energyenergy


to gasto gas

Gas Gas CoolingCooling

&&CleaningCleaning

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

InternalInternalCombustionCombustion

engineengine


to gasto gas


&&CleaningCleaning

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

FFLLAARREE

When combustion enginesWhen combustion enginesnot workingnot working


to gasto gas


&&CleaningCleaning

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

InternalInternalCombustionCombustion

engineengine

??

GAS Cooling & CleaningGAS Cooling & Cleaning

HeatHeatRecoveryRecovery

unitunit

HeatHeat

NaOH NaOH solutionsolution

NaClNaClNaFNaFNaBrNaBr

NaCN ?NaCN ?


unitunit

HeatHeat

WetWetScrubberScrubber

““Salt” + waterSalt” + water



NaCN ?NaCN ?


unitunit

HeatHeat



ActivatedActivated CarbonCarbon

Carbon Carbon + mercury+ mercury+ dioxins+ dioxins

etcetc



NaCN ?NaCN ?


unitunit

HeatHeat



ActivatedActivated CarbonCarbon

Carbon Carbon + mercury+ mercury+ dioxins+ dioxins

etcetc

CarbonCarbonFilterFilterPlusPlus

bacteriabacteria

SulfurSulfur

PLASCO CEO Rod PLASCO CEO Rod Bryden says:Bryden says: 1) Filter ash goes back into furnace.1) Filter ash goes back into furnace. 2) System produces no dioxin 2) System produces no dioxin

because no oxygen available.because no oxygen available. 3) System destroys nanoparticles.3) System destroys nanoparticles. 4) Slag to be used in asphalt & 4) Slag to be used in asphalt &

concrete.concrete. 5) Salt to be used on roads.5) Salt to be used on roads. 6) Sulfur to be used in agriculture6) Sulfur to be used in agriculture

Recycling fly ashRecycling fly ash

Modern incinerators use activated carbon filters to Modern incinerators use activated carbon filters to remove mercuryremove mercury

This carbon is part of the fly ash, and this should This carbon is part of the fly ash, and this should then be a SINK for the mercury (and sent to special then be a SINK for the mercury (and sent to special facilities for recovery or containment)facilities for recovery or containment)

However if you put the fly ash back into the furnace However if you put the fly ash back into the furnace then you will release ALL the mercury againthen you will release ALL the mercury again

There is only place left for the mercury to go (and There is only place left for the mercury to go (and other volatile metals) and that is into the AIR.other volatile metals) and that is into the AIR.

No dioxin because no No dioxin because no airair

There is plenty of air in incoming There is plenty of air in incoming waste!waste!

Dioxin emitted in other plasma Dioxin emitted in other plasma arc facilitiesarc facilities

Yang & Kim (2004).Yang & Kim (2004). Characteristics of dioxins Characteristics of dioxins and metals emission from radwaste plasma and metals emission from radwaste plasma arc melter system. arc melter system. Chemosphere 57: 421-428Chemosphere 57: 421-428

When PVC was fed into the high-temperature When PVC was fed into the high-temperature melter, a significant quantity of PCDD/Fs, melter, a significant quantity of PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead was emitted.cadmium and lead was emitted.

Wet scrubbing with rapid quenching, as well Wet scrubbing with rapid quenching, as well as a low temperature two-step fine filtration, as a low temperature two-step fine filtration, or both of them together or both of them together cannot cannot effectively effectively control the volatile metal species and gas-control the volatile metal species and gas-phase PCDD/Fs.phase PCDD/Fs.

The removal of PVC from the feed waste The removal of PVC from the feed waste stream must also be effective to reduce the stream must also be effective to reduce the emissions of the PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead emissions of the PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead species.species.

Using salt on roadsUsing salt on roads

““Salt” will not be pure salt (NaCl) Salt” will not be pure salt (NaCl) - could be problems with other - could be problems with other salts which are very toxic , e.g. salts which are very toxic , e.g. sodium fluoridesodium fluoride

Using sulfurUsing sulfur

Using sulfur in agriculture could Using sulfur in agriculture could be problem if it is contaminated be problem if it is contaminated with mercury etc.with mercury etc.

The difference The difference between PR hype and between PR hype and RealityReality

The following slides are taken The following slides are taken from from www.GREENACTION.org

They document the dismal track They document the dismal track record of various gasification, record of various gasification, pyrolysis and plasma arc/torch pyrolysis and plasma arc/torch facilitiesfacilities

INDUSTRIAL CLAIMS

THERMOSELECT FACILITY IN KARLSRUHE

BRIGHTSTAR’S WOOLONGONG FACILITY

RICHLAND, WASHINGTON

One of PEAT’s claims is One of PEAT’s claims is very disturbingvery disturbing

They also claim that they They also claim that they will have no fly ash will have no fly ash because they are going to because they are going to recycle it back into the recycle it back into the process.process.

GASIFICATION, GASIFICATION, PYROLYSIS etcPYROLYSIS etc

Engineering consultants’ view:Engineering consultants’ view: ““Many of the perceived benefits of Many of the perceived benefits of

gasification and pyrolysis over combustion gasification and pyrolysis over combustion technology proved to be unfounded. These technology proved to be unfounded. These perceptions have arisen mainly from perceptions have arisen mainly from inconsistent comparisons in the absence of inconsistent comparisons in the absence of quality information.”quality information.”

Fichtner Consulting Engineers Ltd, Stockport, Fichtner Consulting Engineers Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire, March, 2004Cheshire, March, 2004

Lurgi letterLurgi letter “…“…a decision has been taken within Lurgi to a decision has been taken within Lurgi to

discontinue marketing gasification and pyrolysis discontinue marketing gasification and pyrolysis technologies for waste conversion applications.technologies for waste conversion applications.

This decision has come after rigorous analysis of This decision has come after rigorous analysis of market requirements, technical feasibility and market requirements, technical feasibility and economic sensitivities of gasification and pyrolysis economic sensitivities of gasification and pyrolysis of waste, as applied by Lurgi and our competitors. of waste, as applied by Lurgi and our competitors.

We recognize there is a positive bias towards We recognize there is a positive bias towards gasification/pyrolysis amongst politicians and gasification/pyrolysis amongst politicians and environmentalists. However, we are in no doubt environmentalists. However, we are in no doubt that in the short to medium term neither that in the short to medium term neither technology will be developed and commercially technology will be developed and commercially proven to the point where it can compete.”proven to the point where it can compete.”

Letter (08-09-2003) to Fichter Consulting Engineers Ltd, Cheshire, Letter (08-09-2003) to Fichter Consulting Engineers Ltd, Cheshire, UKUK

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