METHOD FOR DECOMPOSING PCB

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decompose and make harmless PCB by means of a simple apparatus by vaporizing PCB in a first heat process and heating the vaporized PCB together with oxygen and steam in a second heat process at a specified temperature or above. SOLUTION: PCB stored in a PCB container is transferred to a sample table 4 within a quartz tube 7 through a pump 6 and heated by means of a first heating means 3 to be vaporized. The vaporized PCB is transferred to a heating position of a second heating means 1 together with steam and oxygen supplied to the quartz tube from a steam generating means 9 and an oxygen cylinder 10. The PCB together with the steam and oxygen is heated at a temperature of 700 deg.C or higher to be decomposed into carbon dioxide, steam and hydrogen chloride, which are then transferred to a neutralization container 13 containing a neutralizing solution 12 to neutralize the hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen chloride gas and the like which have not been absorbed in the neutralization tank 13 are cooled in a cooling tower 14 before organic constituents are absorbed by active carbon 15. The PCB can be made harmless by such a simple apparatus.