A METHOD OF TREATING MATERIALS, AS WELL AS A PLANT AND A REACTOR FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

摘要

An improved method of treating materials comprises the steps of introducing material to be treated into a reactor and admitting thereto an oxidizing agent comprising or constituted by molecular oxygen or ozone, and regulating its flow and/or direction selectively in order to achieve a temperature and a pressure such as to bring about an oxidation reaction, complete molecular dissociation of the material, and consequent sublimation. Any carbon monoxide present in the resulting gases and vapours may be removed by selective adsorption in a washing tower, by catalytic oxidation on metal oxides, or by wet oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. The pressure inside the reactor is modulated between a maximum value and a minimum value in accordance with predetermined rules of variation by valve means associated with the outlet opening of the reactor. The inlet opening of the reactor is provided with sealing means including at least one sealing ring mounted resiliently on flange means. The walls of the reactor are lines with a refractory ceramic material which includes additives so as to have improved resilience and mechanical strength and to be effective in the dissipation to the exterior of the heat which is produced.