ARI Technologies Inc. is to deploy its transportable Thermochemical Conversion Technology (TCCT) to destroy asbestos-containing materials (ACM). The contract will be managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Within the DOE Weapons Complex, more than 4 million cubic feet of ACM is projected to be abated during decommissioning of more than 7000 surplus facilities built in the 1940s and 1950s when asbestos was commonly used in construction. The Department of Energy is ensuring that a proven alternative disposal technology is available to address a significant portion of the ACM waste profile, both in terms of contaminated and non-contaminated material types. The agreement requires ARI to document destruction of ACM generated from actual DOE decommissioning activities and to evaluate costs and performance factors for future deployment. The asbestos is scheduled for destruction in February 2001 at ARI’s test site in Tacoma, Washington. ARI uses a high-temperature process that destroys asbestos through mineralogical conversion. The process results in 100% destruction of asbestos fibres and produces a product that is inert, non-toxic, unregulated, and potentially reusable. ARI’s TCCT has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an alternative disposal method for ACM. The patented technology is also being applied to other hazardous and toxic wastes and is permitted to treat polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in solid and liquid matrices. The technology is being further developed for immobilisation of metals and radionuclides in wastes.