Waste Treatment under Microwave Irradiation

Waste treatments to induce stabilization or recovery of waste materials is an important part of modern research efforts. Microwave processing has proved to be a powerful tool to convey energy exactly where it is needed by the process, as well as to allow operation in peculiar environments, even in remote-controlled modality. The present work is a summary of three years of joint research between Modena’s University and ENEA investigation regarding microwave assisted thermal treatments lead on wastes of different nature, performed at the 2.45 GHz ISM frequency. The heat-treatments regarded the inertisation and vitrification of asbestos and the stabilization in a glassy matrix of a multi-oxide mixture simulating nuclear waste. Either single-mode or multi-mode applicators were used during the preliminary tests, and hybrid heating was exploited, if necessary. In some cases, additives ensuring a better microwave coupling were used to improve the process speed or the overall yield.