A system for treating a feedstock for the purposes of waste destruction,
energy generation, or the production of useful chemicals is disclosed and
includes a reactor vessel. A heating lance is configured to outflow the
products of a partial oxidation reaction into a reaction chamber in the
vessel. The hot reaction products heat and pyrolyze the feedstock in the
chamber generating a process effluent which typically includes gases
(e.g. syn-gas) and carbon solids. Glasses and metals in the feedstock
accumulate in the chamber in a molten state. The molten materials store
thermal energy and provide thermal stability to the treatment system. A
recycle loop uses carbon solids from the process effluent as an input to
the lance for reaction with an oxidant therein.