Indirect Thermal Desorption is a separation process, where the primary function is to remove waste organic compounds from a matrix. Heat is conducted through the walls of a chamber that contain the matrix to be treated. The matrix is heated to the required temperatures of 1000 to 1300º F to meet Universal Treatment Standards (UTS). Waste materials exhibiting a hydrocarbon concentration in excess of 1.5 percent are ideally suited for indirect thermal desorption technology, due to the high potential for uncontrolled combustion if the waste matrix comes in direct contact with an ignition source. With the thermal desorption technology, hydrocarbons are removed by volatilization in an inert atmosphere and then recovered in a vapor recovery system for potential reuse.

Basically, any organic or inorganic compound, whose boiling point can be reached using our thermal desorption technology, can be removed from a stable matrix. Materials with a high oil or moisture content typically require some pretreatment (centrifuge) prior to desorption. Mechanical separation of a contaminated matrix using a centrifuge is usually more cost effective than thermally separating the matrix.

The efficiency of the MCS system and its ability to maintain higher operating temperatures reduces the cost for treating "land banned" materials to meet UTS for disposal while recycling the organics that have been removed.