Molten salt oxidation as an alternative to incineration
Molten Salt Oxidation was originally developed by Rockwell International as part of their coal gasification, and nuclear-and hazardous-waste treatment programs. Single-stage oxidation units employing molten carbonate salt mixtures were found to process up to one ton/day of common solid and liquid wastes (such as paper, rags, plastics, and solvents), and (in larger units) up to one ton/hour of coal. After the oxidation of coal with excess oxygen, coal ash residuals (alumina-silicates) were found adhering to the vessel walls above the liquid level. The phenomenon was not observed with coal gasification-i.e., under oxygen-deficient conditions. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is developing a two-stage/two-vessel approach as a possible means of extending the utility of the process to wastes which contain high concentrations of alumina-silicates in the form of soils or clays, or high concentrations of nitrates including low-level and transuranic wastes. The first stage operates under oxygen-deficient (``pyrolysis``) conditions; the second stage completes oxidation of the evolved gases. The process allows complete oxidation of the organic materials without an open flame. In addition, all acidic gases that would be generated in incinerators are directly metathesized via the molten Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} to form stable salts (NaCl, Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} etc.). Molten salt oxidation therefore avoids the corrosion problems associated with free HCl in incineration. The process is being developed to use pure O{sub 2} feeds in lieu of air, in order to reduce offgas volume and retain the option of closed system operation. In addition, ash is wetted and retained in the melt of the first vessel which must be replaced (continuously or batch-wise). The LLNL Molten Salt unit is described together with the initial operating data.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 10139586
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-108866; CONF-920527-13; ON: DE93009544
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1992 incineration conference,Albuquerque, NM (United States),11-15 May 1992; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
WASTE FORMS
WASTE PROCESSING
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
MOLTEN SALTS
OXIDATION
COMBUSTION
COAL GASIFICATION
ASHES
PYROLYSIS
OXYGEN
MINIMIZATION
ROBOTS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
SYNTHESIS
HEAT TRANSFER
CRUCIBLES
STAINLESS STEELS
THERMOCOUPLES
FLUID FLOW
400800
052001
010404
COMBUSTION, PYROLYSIS, AND HIGH-TEMPERATURE CHEMISTRY
GASIFICATION