What Is Incineration & Distillation?

Incineration is the process of converting waste material into carbon dioxide and water vapor through combustion. After incineration, the leftover gases are put through a distillation process that destroys any remaining harmful chemicals, releasing only steam and carbon dioxide into the environment. Incineration is a safe and effective means of waste management when done correctly, though it does have its critics.

INCINERATION

Incineration works by heating waste material to a controlled temperature that is high enough to destroy harmful chemicals and pollutants. As heat is applied during the process, the chemicals in the waste product convert into gas, which is then heated further and is broken down and combined with oxygen to create steam and less harmful gases. The remaining gases are put through a distillation process that removes any ash, metals or acid. The only products released into the environment following incineration are steam and carbon dioxide. Waste products are compacted during this process, leaving far less of them to dispose of in landfills.

DISTILLATION

Distillation is the process of using a heat source to purify gases or liquids, separating out any pollutants and leaving only vapor or water. When coupled with incineration, distillation removes any remaining byproducts from the combustion process, leaving only steam and carbon dioxide. This is a necessary part of incineration, as the combustion process does not always fully destroy harmful pollutants in the waste material. The leftover pollutants from distillation are then stored or destroyed.

BENEFITS

Incineration offers a number of benefits over other methods of waste disposal. It works quickly and effectively, which is helpful when a site needs to be cleaned up within a certain time frame to protect people and the environment. Incineration also reduces the amount of waste that then needs to be brought to a landfill following the process. It also destroys certain chemicals that would otherwise be left intact through other waste disposal methods.

CRITICISMS

Although incineration provides a clean, safe, effective method of waste management, there are critics of the process. Early incinerators were unregulated and didn't properly dispose of their waste products, releasing harmful gases back out into the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency now strictly regulates the amount of waste products incinerators produce, but critics say more could be done to reduce and destroy the pollutants left over from the process. Additionally, incinerators have come under fire for not being capable of fully destroying polluted waste material and improperly disposing of it in the past.