Method for sequestering heavy metal particulates using H2O, CO2, O2, and a source of particulates

Abstract

Methods of sequestering toxin particulates are described herein. In a primary processing chamber, a carbon source of toxin particulates may be combined with plasma from three plasma torches to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue. Each torch may have a working gas including oxygen gas, water vapor, and carbon dioxide gas. The vitrified toxin residue is removed. The first fluid mixture may be cooled in a first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture. The second fluid mixture may contact a wet scrubber. The final product from the wet scrubber may be used as a fuel product.

Description

BACKGROUND

Various materials may be found to be contaminated with heavy metal particulates. For example, heavy metal particulates may be found in mine tailings after extraction of minerals from ore mining. Heavy metals such as, arsenic, uranium, lead, iron, copper, and zinc are commonly found in mine tailings. Heavy metals may leach out of these various materials into the environment and may be harmful or toxic. It may be necessary to remove heavy metal particulates from various materials.

It is therefore desirable to develop high efficiency methods for sequestering heavy metal particulates from various materials.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a method of sequestering toxin particulates may include providing a first working fluid, exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first fluid plasma, providing a second working fluid, exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second fluid plasma, providing a third working fluid, exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce a third fluid plasma, providing an amount of toxin particulates, contacting the toxin particulates with the third fluid plasma, the second fluid plasma, and the first fluid plasma within a primary processing chamber to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue, removing the vitrified toxin residue, transporting the first fluid mixture to a first heat exchange device, cooling the first fluid mixture using the first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture, and transporting the second fluid mixture to a wet scrubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a block diagram of a system for sequestering heavy metal particulates using H₂O, CO₂, O₂, and a source of toxin particulates according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1B depicts a graphical diagram of an electric field generator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of sequestering toxin particulates according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices and methods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.

As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construed as an admission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.”

The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this application, the respective meanings set forth below.

As used herein, a toxin particulate may generally include any composition of matter that is a poisonous substance. Particular toxin particulates that may be sequestered include mine tailings, pulverized mine tailings, heavy metal particulates, or a blend of mine tailings and heavy metal particulates.

As used herein, vitrified toxin residue may generally include any composition of toxin matter that is transformed from a source of toxin particulates through heat fusion after removal of useful substances. Particular vitrified toxin residue includes heavy metal particulates.

Methods described herein may be used to generate various gaseous or liquid fuel materials after removal of heavy metal particulates. In the various embodiments described herein, a method of sequestering toxin particulates may include providing a first working fluid, exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first fluid plasma, providing a second working fluid, exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second fluid plasma, providing a third working fluid, exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce a third fluid plasma, providing an amount of toxin particulates, contacting the toxin particulates with the third fluid plasma, the second fluid plasma, and the first fluid plasma within a primary processing chamber to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue, removing the vitrified toxin residue, transporting the first fluid mixture to a first heat exchange device, cooling the first fluid mixture using the first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture, and transporting the second fluid mixture to a wet scrubber.

FIG. 1A depicts a block diagram of a system for sequestering heavy metal particulates using H₂O, CO₂, O₂, and a source of toxin particulates according to an embodiment. The system may generally include a supply of carbon source to provide toxin particulates 105, one or more plasma sources, which may include a first high voltage electric field generator 110, a second high voltage electric field generator 115, and a third high voltage electric field generator 120, a primary processing chamber (PPC) 125, a coolant addition device 128, a residue exit port 126, a first water input port 129, a first heat exchange device 130, a first output port 132, and a scrubber 135.

FIG. 2 depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative method of sequestering toxin particulates according to an embodiment. The method may include providing 205 a first working fluid, providing 215 a second working fluid, and providing 225 a third working fluid. In one non-limiting embodiment, the first working fluid may be oxygen gas (O₂), the second working fluid may be water vapor (H₂O), and the third working fluid may be carbon dioxide gas (CO₂). The first working fluid may be exposed 210 to a first high-voltage electric field to generate a first fluid plasma. The second working fluid may be exposed 220 to a second high-voltage electric field to generate a second fluid plasma. The third working fluid may be exposed 230 to a third high-voltage electric field to generate a third fluid plasma. A carbon source for toxin particulates may be provided 235, and then contacted 240 with the first fluid plasma, second fluid plasma, and third fluid plasma. A first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue is produced within the PPC. The vitrified toxin residue may be removed 245 and the first fluid mixture may then be transported 250 to a first heat exchange device. The mixture may then be cooled 255, and then transported 260 to a wet scrubber.

In some embodiments, a carbon source 105 that provides 235 toxin particulates may include mine tailings, pulverized mine tailings, mine dumps, culm dumps, slimes, tails, refuse, leach residue, slickens, ground rock, mine process effluents, ore process refuse, dross, earth extractions, heavy metal particulates, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the carbon source 105 may include one or more binding particulates. The binding particulates may include silicates, clays, iron oxide clays, aluminum oxide clays, allophane clays, humus, or combinations thereof.

The primary processing chamber (PPC) 120 as used herein may generally refer to any chamber that is capable of withstanding one or more processing conditions, such as temperature, pressure, corrosion, and the like, under which the combustion of working fluid in the presence of, for example, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water takes place. In some embodiments, the PPC 120 may be incorporated with the one or more high-voltage electric fields generators 110, 115, 120. In some embodiments, the PPC may include one or more inlets for receiving plasma from the various high voltage electric field generators 110, 115, 120, and at least one outlet for discharging a plasma mixture, as described in greater detail herein. An illustrative PPC 120 may be a plasma arc centrifugal treatment (PACT) system available from Retech Systems, LLC, (Ukiah, Calif.) which, includes at least one plasma torch.

Each of the one or more high-voltage electric field generators 110, 115, 120 may generally be any of various components that may be used to generate a high voltage potential. FIG. 1B depicts a graphical diagram of an electric field generator according to an embodiment. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1B, each of the one or more high-voltage electric field generators 110, 115, 120 may have at least one anode surface 150, at least one cathode surface 155, and an electric potential 160 between the anode surface and the cathode surface. As a result, a magnetic field 165 and an electric field 170 may be generated when the electric potential 160 is applied between the at least one anode surface 150 and the at least one cathode surface 155. In some embodiments, a flow of gas, as described in greater detail herein and indicated by the horizontal arrow, may be substantially perpendicular to the magnetic field 165. In other embodiments, the flow of gas, as indicated by the vertical arrow, may be substantially parallel to the magnetic field 165. The magnetic field 165 and the electric field 170 may each have an effect on gas that flows through a gap between the anode surface 150 and the cathode surface 155. In a non-limiting example, the electric field 170 may stabilize the gas and/or ionize the gas. In another non-limiting example, the magnetic field 165 may alter a spin and/or a velocity of the gas.

Within a PPC 125, a first fluid plasma, a second fluid plasma, and a third fluid plasma may be introduced. The first fluid plasma, second fluid plasma, and third fluid plasma may be contained within the PPC. The first fluid plasma may be generated by exposing 210 a first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field, generated by a first high voltage electric field generator 110, such as a first plasma torch, the second fluid plasma may be generated by exposing 220 a second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field, generated by a second high voltage electric field generator 115, such as a second plasma torch, and the third fluid plasma may be generated by exposing 230 a third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field, generated by a third high voltage electric field generator 120, such as a third plasma torch. A plasma torch, as used herein, may generally include any device capable of generating a directed flow of plasma. Illustrative plasma torches may include, but are not limited to, ionized gas plasma generating systems, such as Inductively Coupled Plasma, Transferred Arc DC Plasma, and Non-Transferred Arc DC Plasma. As uses herein, the terms “torch” or “torches” refer to plasma torches. The torches may be capable of reaching temperatures ranging of up to about 10,000° F. to about 20,000° F. (about 5,540° C. to about 11,090° C.), or more. Each plasma torch may be a portion of a plasma reactor, which is generally a combination of a plasma torch and a reaction vessel with which the plasma torch is used.

In some embodiments, the first working fluid may be oxygen gas (O₂), the second working fluid may be water vapor (H₂O), and the third working fluid may be carbon dioxide gas (CO₂). In some embodiments, the first fluid plasma, second fluid plasma, and third fluid plasma may each attain a temperature of about 20,000° C. at the output of their respective plasma torches. In other embodiments, the second working fluid may also include carbon dioxide. In further embodiments, the third working fluid may include an amount of carbon dioxide obtained from the second fluid mixture. In yet further embodiments, the second fluid mixture may include toxic material silicates, toxic material carbonates, vitreous compositions including the toxic materials, or combinations thereof.

It may be appreciated that the O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ contained within the PPC 125 may be used as working fluids for their respective plasma torches. Thus, each gas may be exposed (210, 220, 230) to a high voltage electric field. As a result of exposure (210, 220, 230) to such fields, the gases may be reduced to free radical species (as examples, for H₂O, these may include the hydroxyl radical OH., and for O₂ these may include the superoxide anion radical O2.⁻) in addition to ionized species (for O₂, these may include O⁻, O₂⁻, O₂⁺, and O⁺). The types and amounts of reactive species created by exposure of the gases to high voltage electric fields may differ from those generated by exposure of the gases to heat alone.

In one non-limiting example of the method, exposing 210 the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field may include providing an anode surface and a cathode surface separated by a distance to create a gap between the two surfaces. The distance may generally be selected such that (for the electrical voltage selected), the electrical field is about 0.3 kV/cm to about 8.0 kV/cm, including about 0.3 kV/cm, about 0.3149 kV/cm, about 0.5 kV/cm, about 0.75 kV/cm, about 1.0 kV/cm, about 1.25 kV/cm, about 1.5 kV/cm, about 1.574 kV/cm, about 2.0 kV/cm, about 2.5 kV/cm, about 3.0 kV/cm, about 3.149 kV/cm, about 3.5 kV/cm, about 4.0 kV/cm, about 4.5 kV/cm, about 5.0 kV/cm, about 5.5 kV/cm, about 6.0 kV/cm, about 6.5 kV/cm, about 7.0 kV/cm, about 7.5 kV/cm, about 7.559 kV/cm, about 8.0 kV/cm, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). Illustrative distances may be about 0.15 cm to about 0.65 cm, including about 0.15 cm, about 0.20 cm, about 0.25 cm, about 0.30 cm, about 0.3175 cm, about 0.35 cm, about 0.40 cm, about 0.45 cm, about 0.50 cm, about 0.55 cm, about 0.60 cm, about 0.65 cm, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

A first high voltage electric potential may be induced between the anode surface and the cathode surface, and the first working fluid may be induced to traverse the gap between the two surfaces. In one non-limiting embodiment, the first high voltage potential may be about 2.4 kV times the gap distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the gap distance in centimeters, including about 2.4 kV, about 5 kV, about 10 kV, about 20 kV, about 30 kV, about 40 kV, about 50 kV, about 60 kV, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). In an embodiment, a voltage between the anode surface and the cathode surface (which is 0.3175 cm) is 2.4 kV, thereby resulting in an electrical field of about 7.559 kV/cm. In another non-limiting embodiment, the first high voltage electric potential may be an AC potential having a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz, including about 1 MHz, about 5 MHz, about 10 MHz, about 20 MHz, about 25 MHz, about 30 MHz, about 40 MHz, about 50 MHz, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). In another non-limiting embodiment, the first high-voltage electric potential may have a current of about 100 Amperes to about 1000 Amperes, including about 100 Amperes, about 200 Amperes, about 300 Amperes, about 400 Amperes, about 500 Amperes, about 600 Amperes, about 700 Amperes, about 800 Amperes, about 900 Amperes, about 1000 Amperes, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

In another non-limiting example of the method, exposing 220 the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field may include providing an anode surface and a cathode surface separated by a distance to create a gap between the two surfaces. The distance may generally be selected such that (for the electrical voltage selected), the electrical field is about 0.3 kV/cm to about 8.0 kV/cm, including about 0.3 kV/cm, about 0.3149 kV/cm, about 0.5 kV/cm, about 0.75 kV/cm, about 1.0 kV/cm, about 1.25 kV/cm, about 1.5 kV/cm, about 1.574 kV/cm, about 2.0 kV/cm, about 2.5 kV/cm, about 3.0 kV/cm, about 3.149 kV/cm, about 3.5 kV/cm, about 4.0 kV/cm, about 4.5 kV/cm, about 5.0 kV/cm, about 5.5 kV/cm, about 6.0 kV/cm, about 6.5 kV/cm, about 7.0 kV/cm, about 7.5 kV/cm, about 7.559 kV/cm, about 8.0 kV/cm, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). Illustrative distances may be about 0.15 cm to about 0.65 cm, including about 0.15 cm, about 0.20 cm, about 0.25 cm, about 0.30 cm, about 0.3175 cm, about 0.35 cm, about 0.40 cm, about 0.45 cm, about 0.50 cm, about 0.55 cm, about 0.60 cm, about 0.65 cm, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

A second high voltage electric potential may be induced between the anode surface and the cathode surface, and the second working fluid may be induced to traverse the gap between the two surfaces. In one non-limiting embodiment, the second high voltage potential may be about 2.4 kV times the gap distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the gap distance in centimeters, including about 2.4 kV, about 5 kV, about 10 kV, about 20 kV, about 30 kV, about 40 kV, about 50 kV, about 60 kV, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). In an embodiment, a voltage between the anode surface and the cathode surface (which is 0.3175 cm) is 2.4 kV, thereby resulting in an electrical field of about 7.559 kV/cm. In another non-limiting embodiment, the second high voltage electric potential may be an AC potential having a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz, including about 1 MHz, about 5 MHz, about 10 MHz, about 20 MHz, about 25 MHz, about 30 MHz, about 40 MHz, about 50 MHz, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). In another non-limiting embodiment, the second high-voltage electric potential may have a current of about 100 Amperes to about 1000 Amperes, including about 100 Amperes, about 200 Amperes, about 300 Amperes, about 400 Amperes, about 500 Amperes, about 600 Amperes, about 700 Amperes, about 800 Amperes, about 900 Amperes, about 1000 Amperes, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

In another non-limiting example of the method, exposing 230 the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field may include providing an anode surface and a cathode surface separated by a distance to create a gap between the two surfaces. The distance may generally be selected such that (for the electrical voltage selected), the electrical field is about 0.3 kV/cm to about 8.0 kV/cm, including about 0.3 kV/cm, about 0.3149 kV/cm, about 0.5 kV/cm, about 0.75 kV/cm, about 1.0 kV/cm, about 1.25 kV/cm, about 1.5 kV/cm, about 1.574 kV/cm, about 2.0 kV/cm, about 2.5 kV/cm, about 3.0 kV/cm, about 3.149 kV/cm, about 3.5 kV/cm, about 4.0 kV/cm, about 4.5 kV/cm, about 5.0 kV/cm, about 5.5 kV/cm, about 6.0 kV/cm, about 6.5 kV/cm, about 7.0 kV/cm, about 7.5 kV/cm, about 7.559 kV/cm, about 8.0 kV/cm, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). Illustrative distances may be about 0.15 cm to about 0.65 cm, including about 0.15 cm, about 0.20 cm, about 0.25 cm, about 0.30 cm, about 0.3175 cm, about 0.35 cm, about 0.40 cm, about 0.45 cm, about 0.50 cm, about 0.55 cm, about 0.60 cm, about 0.65 cm, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

A third high voltage electric potential may be induced between the anode surface and the cathode surface, and the third working fluid may be induced to traverse the gap between the two surfaces. In one non-limiting embodiment, the third high voltage potential may be about 2.4 kV times the gap distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the gap distance in centimeters, including about 2.4 kV, about 5 kV, about 10 kV, about 20 kV, about 30 kV, about 40 kV, about 50 kV, about 60 kV, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). In an embodiment, a voltage between the anode surface and the cathode surface (which is 0.3175 cm) is 2.4 kV, thereby resulting in an electrical field of about 7.559 kV/cm. In another non-limiting embodiment, the third high voltage electric potential may be an AC potential having a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz, including about 1 MHz, about 5 MHz, about 10 MHz, about 20 MHz, about 25 MHz, about 30 MHz, about 40 MHz, about 50 MHz, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints). In another non-limiting embodiment, the third high-voltage electric potential may have a current of about 100 Amperes to about 1000 Amperes, including about 100 Amperes, about 200 Amperes, about 300 Amperes, about 400 Amperes, about 500 Amperes, about 600 Amperes, about 700 Amperes, about 800 Amperes, about 900 Amperes, about 1000 Amperes, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

It may be understood that the anode and cathode surfaces contacting the first working fluid, the second working fluid, and the third working fluid may be the same set of surfaces or they may differ. If each working fluid contacts an independent pair of anode and cathode surfaces, the respective gap distances may be essentially the same or different, and high voltage electric potentials to which the working fluids are exposed may have essentially the same or different characteristics.

It may be appreciated that each source of the high voltage electric fields (generators 110, 115, and 120), such as plasma torches, may be controlled by one or more control systems. Such control systems may be specific for all the plasma torches together and may be different from or included with a control system for the entire power generating system. Alternatively, each plasma torch may have a separate control system. A control system for a plasma torch may include control functions for torch parameters, such as, but not limited to, the value of the high voltage electric fields, and frequency of the high voltage electric fields. Control of the torches may be based on one or more process measurements, including but not limited to, a measurement of a voltage applied to components that may generate the high voltage electric fields, a current drain of a voltage supply for the high voltage electric field generators (110, 115, and 120), such as plasma torches, the temperature of the plasma output of the high voltage electric field generators (110, 115, and 120), and the composition of the plasma in the PPC 125. It may further be appreciated that each of the high voltage electric field generators (110, 115, and 120), as exemplified by plasma torches, may be controlled according to one or more process algorithms. The plasma torches may be controlled according to the same process method or algorithm (as provided by individual controllers or a single controller). Alternatively, each of the plasma torches may be controlled according to a different process method or algorithm (as provided by individual controllers or by a single controller).

In some embodiments, the three working fluids, exemplified by O₂, H₂O, and CO₂, may be combined into one or two combined working fluids before being supplied to one or more high voltage electric field generators (110, 115, or 120). As a non-limiting example, O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ may be combined into a single combined working fluid to be supplied to a single plasma torch. By extension, the controllers associated with each of the supply sources for the O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ may cause a specific amount of each gas to be added to the combined working fluid to produce an optimized ratio of gasses. Similarly, the controller associated with a single plasma torch may cause the plasma torch to operate under optimum conditions for a specific ratio of gasses in the combined working fluid.

The third fluid plasma, the second fluid plasma, and the first fluid plasma together may be directed to contact 240 a carbon source of toxin particulates within the PPC, thereby creating a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue. The carbon source of toxin particulates may be provided 235 from a supply of carbon source of toxin particulates 105. The mechanical components used to transport the carbon source of toxin particulates into the PPC 125 may be controlled according to some process parameters. The control of the transport of the carbon source of toxin particulates may be supplied by a control system. Such a control system may be specific to the mechanical components used to transport the carbon source of toxin particulates into the PPC 125. Alternatively, such a control system may be included in a control system that controls the entire power generation system.

In some non-limiting examples, the PPC 125 may also be maintained at a vacuum or a near vacuum. In one non-limiting example, the PPC 125 may be maintained at a pressure of about 50 kPa (0.5 atmospheres) to about 507 kPa (about 0.5 atmospheres to about 5 atmospheres), including about 50 kPa, about 100 kPa, about 150 kPa, about 200 kPa, about 260 kPa, about 300 kPa, about 350 kPa, about 400 kPa, about 450 kPa, about 500 kPa, about 507 kPa, or any value or range between any two of these values (including endpoints).

The first fluid mixture, while in the PPC 125, may attain temperatures of about 4000° C. to about 20000° C. Higher or lower temperatures may be attained according to the conditions under which the high voltage field generators operate. The first fluid mixture may be cooled within the PPC 125, at an exit port of the PPC, in a transport device (such as a pipe or other duct-work) at an exit of the PPC, or at a combination of these locations through the action of a coolant addition device 128. In one non-limiting example, the coolant may include liquid oxygen (LOX). An amount of coolant introduced into the first fluid mixture by the coolant addition device 128 may be controlled by a control system. In some non-limiting examples, the amount of the coolant added to the first fluid mixture may be controlled according to a temperature of the first fluid mixture, a composition of the first fluid mixture, or other measured parameters of the first fluid mixture. Such a control system may be associated only with the coolant addition device 128. Alternatively, such a control system may be incorporated into a system for controlling the entire power generation system. The addition of the coolant to the first fluid mixture may reduce the temperature of the resulting fluid mixture (an admixed first fluid mixture) to 1450° C. to about 1650° C., including about 1450° C., about 1500° C., about 1550° C., about 1600° C., about 1650° C., or any value or range between any two of these values. It may be further appreciated that the admixed first fluid mixture may have a composition different from that of the first fluid mixture.

Vitrified toxin residue may be removed 245 from the first fluid mixture in the PPC 125 through a residue exit port 126 by various methods. These methods may include vacuum removal, centripetal force resulting in the vitrified toxin residue adhering to the walls of the PPC 125, pumping, draining, gravity flow, or combinations thereof.

The first fluid mixture may be transported 250 to a first heat exchange device 130. In the first heat exchange device 130, the first fluid mixture may exchange at least some heat with a heat exchange material, and thus cool to form a second fluid mixture. In some non-limiting examples, the first heat exchange device 130 may be a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). The first heat exchange device 130 may allow transfer of at least some heat from the first fluid mixture to a heat exchange material, such as water. Water may enter the first heat exchange device 130 through a first water input port 129. The amount of water may be controlled by a control system. The heated first heat exchange material, which may include steam as a non-limiting example, may exit the first heat exchange device 130 by means of a first output port 132. The heated first heat exchange material may be further transported to a first electric turbine to generate a first supply of electric power.

In one non-limiting example, the first heat exchange material may be water, which may be converted to a first supply of steam in the first heat exchange device 130. Once the first supply of steam has activated the electric turbine, the first supply of steam may be cooled to liquid water. In some embodiments, the liquid water may be returned to the first heat exchange device 130 to be reheated by more of the first fluid mixture. Alternatively, the first supply of steam, after activating the first electric turbine, may be returned to a working fluid source to be supplied to a high voltage electric field generator (110, 115, or 120), such as one of the plasma torches. In some embodiments, the second working fluid may include an amount of steam generated by the HRSG.

At an output port 132 of the first heat exchange device 130, the second fluid mixture may be cooled 255, resulting in a temperature of about 35° C. to about 1650° C., about 38° C. to about 1620° C., about 60° C. to about 1400° C., about 80° C. to about 1200° C., about 100° C. to about 1000° C., about 200° C. to about 800° C., about 400° C. to about 600° C. The composition of the second fluid mixture may be different from that of the first fluid mixture and that of the admixed first fluid mixture.

The second fluid mixture from the first heat exchange device 130 may be transported 260 to any number of cleaning devices 135 to remove unwanted components, non-limiting examples being sulfur-containing material and mercury-containing materials. Such cleaning devices 135 may include, without limitation, a wet scrubber.

The resultant gas mixture exiting the cleaning devices 135 may include primarily carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). In some embodiments, such gases may be released into the atmosphere. In other embodiments, the gases may be returned to be re-used at appropriate points in the process. For example, CO₂ may be returned to the CO₂ supply source while the water may be returned to the water supply source for re-use in the PPC 125.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated in this disclosure, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds, or compositions, which can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms in this disclosure, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth in this disclosure for sake of clarity. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used in this disclosure, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). While various compositions, methods, and devices are described in terms of “comprising” various components or steps (interpreted as meaning “including, but not limited to”), the compositions, methods, and devices can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps, and such terminology should be interpreted as defining essentially closed-member groups.

It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed in this disclosure also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed in this disclosure can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method of sequestering toxin particulates, the method comprising: providing a first working fluid;exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first fluid plasma;providing a second working fluid;exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second fluid plasma;providing a third working fluid;exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce a third fluid plasma;providing an amount of toxin particulates;contacting the toxin particulates with the third fluid plasma, the second fluid plasma, and the first fluid plasma within a primary processing chamber to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue;removing the vitrified toxin residue;transporting the first fluid mixture to a first heat exchange device, wherein the first heat exchange device is a heat recovery steam generator;cooling the first fluid mixture using the first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture, wherein the second working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of steam generated by the heat recovery steam generator; andtransporting the second fluid mixture to a wet scrubber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first working fluid is oxygen gas.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second working fluid is water vapor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third working fluid is carbon dioxide gas.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the toxin particulates comprise one or more of the following: pulverized mine tailings and heavy metal particulates.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises: providing an anode surface;providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface, to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;providing a first high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; andcausing the first working fluid to traverse the gap.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises: providing an anode surface;providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;providing a second high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; andcausing the second working fluid to traverse the gap.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field comprises: providing an anode surface;providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;providing a third high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; andcausing the third working fluid to traverse the gap.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises causing the first working fluid to pass through a first plasma torch.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises causing the second working fluid to pass through a second plasma torch.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field comprises causing the third working fluid to pass through a third plasma torch.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the toxin particulates further comprise one or more binding particulates.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more binding particulates include one or more of the following: silicates and clays.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid mixture has a temperature of about 7230° F. (4000° C.) to about 36000° F. (20000° C.).

18. The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the first fluid mixture comprises cooling the first fluid plasma mixture to a temperature of about 100° F. (38° C.) to about 2950° F. (1620° C.).

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid mixture further comprises carbon dioxide.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the third working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of carbon dioxide obtained from the second fluid mixture.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid mixture further comprises one or more of the following: toxic material silicates, toxic material carbonates, and vitreous compositions including the toxic materials.