What is Incineration?

About Incineration:

• It is the process of burning hazardous materials at temperatures high enough to destroy contaminants.
• It is conducted in an “incinerator,” which is a type of furnace designed for burning hazardous materials in a combustion chamber.
• Many different types of hazardous materials can be treated by incineration, including soil, sludge, liquids, and gases.
• Although it destroys many kinds of harmful chemicals, such as solvents, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and pesticides, incineration does not destroy metals such as lead and chromium.
• Waste incineration can be a form of waste-to-energy because the heat generated during combustion can be used to create electricity.
• How Does It Work?
  • Hazardous materials must be excavated or pumped into containers before incineration.
  • They may require further preparation, such as grinding or removing large rocks and debris, or removing excess water.
  • The materials are then placed in the combustion chamber of an incinerator where they are heated to an extremely high temperature for a specified period of time.
  • The temperature and length of time depend on the types of wastes and contaminants present.
  • Air or pure oxygen may be added to the chamber to supply the oxygen needed for burning.
  • As the wastes heat up, the contaminants volatilize (change into gases), and most are destroyed.
  • Gases that are not destroyed pass through a secondary combustion chamber for further heating and destruction.
  • The resulting gases then pass through air pollution control equipment, which removes particulate matter (extremely small particles or liquid droplets) and “acid gases.”