Introduction

Pyrolysis is a revolutionary yet proven high temperature technology that provides destruction similar to that obtained in an incinerator or crematory. Yet, Pyrolysis is superior to incineration because it does not involve an open flame or violent turbulence that results from the process of combustion.

Pyrolysis is defined as the endothermic (heat absorbing reaction) gasification of waste using external energy (heat) in the absence of oxygen. In practice, it involves the controlled breakdown of the waste's molecular structures by elevating their temperatures in the absence of oxygen. High heat must be applied from an external source. Because the flame never touches the waste, and no outside air is added to the chamber, pyrolysis does not allow the waste to combust (an exothermic or heat releasing reaction) within the pyrolysis chamber as in an incinerator, controlled or starved air incinerator, rotary kiln, or plasma arc vitrification incinerator. There is no turbulence or flame in the pyrolysis chamber to cause currents that carry away air emissions and particulate.

Thus, the only pollution control equipment that may be needed on a Pyrolytic Destructor™, depending upon local air quality regulations, may be a relatively inexpensive charcoal filter. This type of equipment is much simpler and less costly than any equipment required for an incinerator. In fact, there are no visible particulate emissions from a properly operated Pyrolytic Destructor™ and there are far less measurable chemical emissions than what is allowed under even the most stringent emissions laws in the world - the United States Environmental Protection Agency's regulations pertaining to regulated medical waste incinerators.

In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has excluded equipment achieving true pyrolysis from the hospital and medical waste incinerator regulations because pyrolysis is not considered incineration. The U.S. EPA has even provided a specific exemption for pyrolysis in its most current air pollution regulations (40 CFR 60.50.c(f)). The U.S. EPA has set very rigid standards for pyrolysis. In order to qualify, Honua has submitted detailed test results to the U.S. EPA, which have been accepted. To Honua's knowledge, its Pyrolytic Destructors™ are the only such units that meet the U.S. EPA exemption. Please see a copy of that USEPA letter appended to this letter.

For a process to be recognized as pyrolysis by the U.S. EPA, there can be no visible flame within the pyrolysis chamber. In essence, a pyrolysis chamber must be a sealed chamber heated by an external source that transfers heat into the chamber by meticulously controlled conduction and convection much like a modern self-cleaning oven. Organic materials decompose gently over time.

Honua's proprietary Pyrolytic Destructor™ systems are simple, rugged and capable of destroying even mad cow disease pirons and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Operator training requirements are reduced, because Pyrolytic Destructors™ are simple to operate and maintain. In fact, there is very little maintenance required for a Pyrolytic Destructor™ since it is made of time-tested components and materials used in industrial furnaces and other industrial high heat applications.

Next Chapter: Pyrolysis Process