Technology

About FastOx^® gasification technology

A robust fixed-bed slagging gasifier designed to process a wide range of waste streams and turn them into a high-quality syngas, while inorganics leave as vitrified, non-leaching stone.

See the process Yield calculator Knowledge base

The FastOx gasification process

Steam and oxygen, not fire.

FastOx is an oxygen-blown, fixed-bed gasification system operating slightly above atmospheric pressure. Organic components in the waste react with steam and oxygen to produce a syngas composed primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. With appropriate sizing and limits on feed composition, FastOx gasification is designed to process municipal solid waste, biomass, construction and demolition debris, industrial residues, and certain medical and hazardous waste streams.

FastOx gasification process flow diagram from feedstocks to end products — Process flow: preparation and handling → FastOx gasifier with oxygen from an air separation unit → heat recovery → steam distribution → gas clean-up and refining → electricity, diesel, SAF, methanol, RNG, hydrogen and chemicals. Slag and metal exit the gasifier as byproducts.

Step 1

Preparation

Waste is sized for the feed system and blended where needed to maintain suitable operating conditions.

Step 2

Gasification

Organic components are heated and react with steam and oxygen to generate a high-quality syngas.

Step 3

Refining

Cooled syngas is cleaned to the specification of the selected end-product equipment.

Step 4

Production

Cleaned syngas is transformed into a valuable, customer-selected product using commercially proven conversion technology.

Inside the gasifier

Four reaction zones in one vessel.

Waste descends through the gasifier while syngas and heat rise. Each zone does a different job.

Drying and pyrolysis

Waste enters through a side-mounted feeder and falls onto the bed below. Syngas rises through the bed, promoting pyrolysis and drying, which drives off volatile compounds.

Gasification

Carbon char reacts with injected oxygen and steam to generate high temperature and form carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Melting

At more than 2,200 °C inorganics and metals melt and are tapped as molten slag that cools into vitrified stone.

Polisher

Volatile tars from drying and pyrolysis are converted to additional syngas at elevated temperature with controlled addition of steam and oxygen, producing a tar-free syngas suitable for refining.

Byproducts

Vitrified stone instead of hazardous ash.

Temperatures above 2,200 °C melt inorganic materials and toxic compounds into a glass-like slag. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) testing shows hazardous metals are immobilized in the vitrified, non-leaching stone matrix. The stone has been evaluated as a Class 2 alternative base material under California Department of Transportation requirements, supporting its potential use as an aggregate or cement additive, subject to applicable specifications.

Designed to produce vitrified inert stone rather than hazardous bottom ash or dioxins and furans
Metals recovered in molten form
Soot removed in gas cleaning is recycled to the gasifier

Yield calculator

How much energy could your waste create?

Pick a feedstock, a system size and an end product to get an indicative annual yield from a system using FastOx gasification.

Choose a feedstock

Choose a system size

Choose an end product (optional)

Indicative results

Syngas yield—

End-product yield—

Yields shown are indicative and based on post-recycled feedstock at roughly 20% moisture with full syngas recycle to run the gasifier and generate oxygen. Specifics vary by project configuration.

Knowledge base