Rapid Transformation of Asbestos into Harmless Waste by a Microwave Rotary Furnace: Application of Microwave Heating to Rubble Processing of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

There is a need for a detoxification system that is capable of processing debris in the aftermath of urban disasters into less-harmful waste, quickly and efficiently. The research reported in this paper investigated the potential for transforming asbestos-cement into harmless waste using microwave heating, in small-scale and full-scale experiments. The small-scale setup investigated the relationship between temperature and the number of asbestos fibers in cement slates at various microwave treatment times, during which both the internal and surface temperatures were measured for the samples. Subsequently, the full-size apparatus, which was capable of processing 2t/day of asbestos-contaminated debris, was constructed at a location affected by the Tohoku earthquake in 2011. This system could successfully process 80 kg/h of asbestos-contaminated material and 80-160 kg/h of wood waste. The test results demonstrate that compact asbestos-treatment systems possess efficiency advantages and can operate in full compliance with applicable legal restrictions. (C) 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.