Public impact on technical research: The dissimilar fates of two waste gasification projects

摘要

AbstractGasification is an innovative process that offers considerable potential for highly efficient thermal destruction of hazardous wastes. To explore this potential, plans were made to use gasification to destroy polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a demonstration project at the University of North Dakota Energy Research Center's pilot‐plant lignite gasifier. The Center received the necessary state and federal environmental permits in July 1986. However, shortly after the permits were granted, public opposition to the PCB program developed. The state operating permit was revoked and the project was terminated. In contrast to the North Dakota experience, research conducted by the Thermolytica Corporation in California has resulted in commercialization of a gasification detoxifier for hazardous waste destruction. The nature and dissimilar fates of the North Dakota and California projects are reviewe