INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE DISPOSAL OF CFCS IN A CEMENT KILN

Restriction on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have gained worldwide accept ance and there is now a pressing need to establish ways of disposing o f CFCs. Since February 1994, the Chichibu Onoda Cement Corporation, in collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, has been undert aking research into CFC disposal using a cement kiln to develop a safe and reliable method of CFC disposal. CFCs were successfully destroyed using a small experimental kiln. Since February 1995 demonstration ex periments have been carried out using a commercial kiln which is in ac tual operation. The first experiment was a sit-hour experiment with CF C-12, the second experiment was a three-day continuous experiment with CFC-12, and the third experiment was a six-hour experiment on CFC-11 and CFC-113. The CFCs were successfully destroyed in the above experim ents. This method was also approved by the Cement Kiln Method Investig ation Committee, which consists of experts and specialists seeking to establish ways of disposing of CFCs. The intention is to start commerc ial operation after carrying out a final examination, over a one-month period following the installation of a commercial continuous CFC inje ctor.