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Plasma Gasification Raises Hopes of Clean Energy From Garbage

New York Times -- David Robau tours the country promoting a system that sounds too good to be true: It devours municipal garbage, recycles metals, blasts toxic contaminants and produces electricity and usable byproducts — all with drastic reductions in emissions.

Mr. Robau, an environmental scientist for the Air Force, has been promoting a method that was developed with the Air Force to dispose of garbage with neither the harmful byproducts of conventional incineration nor the environmental impact of transporting and burying waste. It is one of several innovative techniques that the United States military has been researching to provide alternatives to the open-pit burns that some veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars say have made them ill.

Already some waste companies and cities like New York

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Submitted Sep 12, 2012 By: Martinman

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,632 Points:1,610,495 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 12:21:42 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse we need more outside the box thinkers.
eppylover Sophomore Author Grand Rapids Posts:231 Points:38,180 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 6:43:43 PM Ignore eppylover Report Abuse If Big Oil can't cash in on it in a big way, look for it never to happen.
MadTraveler Champion Author Idaho Posts:2,082 Points:572,100 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 5:37:51 PM Ignore MadTraveler Report Abuse Old - and still question economics of it.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,008 Points:599,685 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 2:35:45 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,266 Points:589,360 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 2:37:16 AM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse Interesting....
Martinman Champion Author Mississippi Posts:14,739 Points:2,093,830 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 1:13:06 AM Ignore Martinman Report Abuse Several forum members have posted earlier that local demonstration projects have validated this recovery process. The issue will be whether it is scalable to the large-scale commercial level and both still effective and profitable.
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,990 Points:2,527,310 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:20:07 AM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse sounds like BS
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,473 Points:663,925 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:18:43 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Sounds good, but NO GONERNMENT SUBSIDIES.
gbsbok Rookie Author Portland Posts:11 Points:73,875 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:14:26 AM Ignore gbsbok Report Abuse when it sounds too good to be true, ....
bcok Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,126 Points:1,544,495 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:13:18 AM Ignore bcok Report Abuse love those by products.
DblChek Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,345 Points:615,245 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:12:58 AM Ignore DblChek Report Abuse Cost effective?
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,946 Points:1,926,555 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:12:55 AM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse "blast toxic contaminants" ?
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,703 Points:1,639,145 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:10:25 AM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse Most toxic waste can be destroyed by high heat, pressure and added oxygen.
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,703 Points:1,639,145 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:08:04 AM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse Big tax dollars to make this work.
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,543 Points:688,055 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:07:37 AM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse Ok
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,542 Points:1,859,345 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2012 12:01:47 AM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse Make gas out of garbage, great.....smaller landfills too.
vibdata Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,090 Points:849,300 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:56:50 PM Ignore vibdata Report Abuse The name of the process sounds extremely dangerous. Never mind the actual use of it. Please use common sense when burning garbage. Toxic waste is never easy to dispose of.
DrivingFool2 Champion Author Appleton Posts:8,592 Points:1,606,840 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:56:41 PM Ignore DrivingFool2 Report Abuse Good
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,329 Points:1,532,975 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:53:21 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Hope they know what they are doing, remember sometimes the Air Force has their heads in the clouds!
WinderGuy Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,874 Points:933,580 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:50:13 PM Ignore WinderGuy Report Abuse Ok
achas Veteran Author Charlotte Posts:270 Points:43,545 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:49:24 PM Ignore achas Report Abuse GETTING RID O GARBAGE AND CONTAMINANTS CLEANLY - PRICELESS
HumbleHarv Rookie Author Los Angeles Posts:78 Points:1,005,310 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:48:55 PM Ignore HumbleHarv Report Abuse As mentioned, one of the by-products is hydrogen which can then be used for a hydrogen fuel cell to produce electricity which can then power my car!
carpenter4u Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,436 Points:617,145 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:47:46 PM Ignore carpenter4u Report Abuse Would be all for it if it can be competetive and practical
DaisysMomNC All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:959 Points:200,850 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:47:08 PM Ignore DaisysMomNC Report Abuse Just like so many of the "green" ideas, the cost is probably to much to make it worth it.
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,507 Points:603,450 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:46:10 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse sounds great [Edited by: Ahking at 9/12/2012 11:47:06 PM EST]
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,075 Points:1,733,165 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:44:43 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse the cost may be more than we can afford
saleboss Champion Author Phoenix Posts:3,929 Points:1,177,875 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:38:28 PM Ignore saleboss Report Abuse Get it into production soon!
defiancegasman Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,080 Points:1,323,260 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:38:18 PM Ignore defiancegasman Report Abuse But whats the end COST going to be. It will NOT be used if it cost more, no matter what benifits we get from it!
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,673 Points:1,423,555 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:35:36 PM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse Just do it.
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,763 Points:2,467,560 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:35:29 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Sounds good.
singlemom27 Champion Author Ventura Posts:3,118 Points:641,160 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:32:11 PM Ignore singlemom27 Report Abuse I hope they can make it happen economically.
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,787 Points:645,560 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:30:08 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse Sounds like a complex process - have this guy work on rebuilding the U.S. refineries.
RecountFL Champion Author Miami Posts:8,749 Points:1,502,860 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:29:38 PM Ignore RecountFL Report Abuse Just toss some garbage into Mr. Fusion and you've got 1.21 jiggawatts of power for your Delorean. All of them come standard with the time traveling feature, but you have to do some work to it before it will actually reach 88 mph.
KY_Homeboy Veteran Author Kentucky Posts:303 Points:362,230 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:29:13 PM Ignore KY_Homeboy Report Abuse Let's get a few going & monitor the results. Get rid of trash, destroy dangerous contaminants, and produce electricity - all at the same time!
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,718 Points:761,230 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:27:53 PM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse The sweet smell of victory.
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,266 Points:589,360 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:26:43 PM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse Interesting.....
Barfood Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,306 Points:1,018,655 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:26:15 PM Ignore Barfood Report Abuse Sounds exciting.
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,038 Points:1,700,375 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:25:36 PM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse Isn't technology amazing.
tco9436 Champion Author Connecticut Posts:1,782 Points:723,475 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:25:18 PM Ignore tco9436 Report Abuse Enough already!
furiousfowl Champion Author Riverside Posts:16,860 Points:2,750,155 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:18:47 PM Ignore furiousfowl Report Abuse Nature at work.
markiesm Rookie Author Fort Worth Posts:79 Points:410,720 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:18:35 PM Ignore markiesm Report Abuse Yeah, the US will be the only to enforce this. Try to get China on board. Too costly for them. They prefer to pollute
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,079 Points:1,449,300 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:18:26 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Clean energy from garbage? It's about time we make Congress useful for something.
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,212 Points:873,340 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:16:17 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse Fine, just as long as taxpayer money is not funding another green boondoggle.
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,093 Points:1,392,820 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:15:53 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse Keep working on the technology.
bra0712 Champion Author Arizona Posts:3,670 Points:769,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:11:25 PM Ignore bra0712 Report Abuse K
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,810 Points:820,285 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:11:02 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Interesting article...
Cableman66 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,120 Points:491,895 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:10:51 PM Ignore Cableman66 Report Abuse OK.
Star Cruise Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,226 Points:361,335 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:09:44 PM Ignore Star Cruise Report Abuse Interesting - Might even let us start putting Corn on the table again
Alaydown Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,121 Points:824,370 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:09:36 PM Ignore Alaydown Report Abuse It is an interesting article, but there are still many unanswered questions. We don't know the unintended consequences of this process yet like what other toxins are produced. At most right now, this technology will only be useful in reducing the landfill problem. We don't have data here on the net energy produced as it obviously takes considerable energy to process the garbage. The only thing it mentions is that it makes enough electricity to power the system rather than stating how much extra is produced. Also not mentioned is the cost. I also have to agree with Mr. Hershkowitz in the article that they are "not even at the point where they should be thinking about waste-to-energy" because there is much more recycling to be done before this process is used.
letterchunker Champion Author Texas Posts:2,245 Points:667,675 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:09:32 PM Ignore letterchunker Report Abuse Go for it