Vitrification tests of asbestos wastes were carried out with a high-temperature gasifying and direct melting furnace developed by JFE Engineering Corporation. The asbestos wastes, such as sprayed-on asbestos and thermal insulation material, were vitrified with industrial and municipal wastes. The asbestos in the wastes is decomposed into oxides, which have relatively high melting points and vitrified into the slag in the furnace. It is confirmed that the asbestos fibers do not remain in the molten slag obtained by high-temperature melting, and the levels of asbestos in the emission gas samples were sufficiently low. Treatment of asbestos wastes in the high-temperature gasifying and direct melting furnace is proved to be a sufficient process to convert them into non-hazardous material.
