skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Molten metal processes reap profit from waste

Abstract

Over the past few years, a new tool has been added to the waste-processing arsenal. The use of a reactor filled with molten metal has been proven for dissociating a wide range of organic, organometallic, metallic and inorganic wastes into their constituent elements. Such reactors allow users to manipulate the solution chemistry and operating conditions inside, to reconfigure the dissociated elements into useful products, such as synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide), HCl, metal alloys and ceramics, while ensuring high levels of environmental performance. A commercial-scale, molten metal processing unit is being constructed at Hoechst Celanese Corp.`s Bay City, Tex., chemical manufacturing plant. The unit with an estimated capital cost of $25 million, will be constructed, owned and operated by Molten Metal Technology, Inc., and will use MMT`s Catalytic Extraction processing. Once online, the facility will process wastes from Hoechst Celanese`s Gulf Coast plants and from other nearby chemical manufacturers. In addition to processing wastes, the facility will generate a syngas product that will be used onsite as a raw material during chemical manufacturing. Presented are the results of commercial-scale demonstrations using a prototype molten metal reactor for a wide range of industrial waste streams.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Hoechst Celanese Corp., Charlotte, NC (United States)
  2. Molten Metal Technology, Inc., Waltham, MA (United States)
  3. Fluor Daniel, Inc., Irvine, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
253644
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Engineering World
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: PBD: May-Jun 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 10 SYNTHETIC FUELS; CHEMICAL INDUSTRY; WASTE MANAGEMENT; SYNTHESIS GAS; PRODUCTION; METALS; MATERIALS RECOVERY; CERAMICS; HYDROCHLORIC ACID; WASTE PROCESSING; INDUSTRIAL WASTES; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; INORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS

Citation Formats

Mather, R, Steckler, D, Kimmel, S, and Tanner, A. Molten metal processes reap profit from waste. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Mather, R, Steckler, D, Kimmel, S, & Tanner, A. Molten metal processes reap profit from waste. United States.
Mather, R, Steckler, D, Kimmel, S, and Tanner, A. 1996. "Molten metal processes reap profit from waste". United States.
@article{osti_253644,
title = {Molten metal processes reap profit from waste},
author = {Mather, R and Steckler, D and Kimmel, S and Tanner, A},
abstractNote = {Over the past few years, a new tool has been added to the waste-processing arsenal. The use of a reactor filled with molten metal has been proven for dissociating a wide range of organic, organometallic, metallic and inorganic wastes into their constituent elements. Such reactors allow users to manipulate the solution chemistry and operating conditions inside, to reconfigure the dissociated elements into useful products, such as synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide), HCl, metal alloys and ceramics, while ensuring high levels of environmental performance. A commercial-scale, molten metal processing unit is being constructed at Hoechst Celanese Corp.`s Bay City, Tex., chemical manufacturing plant. The unit with an estimated capital cost of $25 million, will be constructed, owned and operated by Molten Metal Technology, Inc., and will use MMT`s Catalytic Extraction processing. Once online, the facility will process wastes from Hoechst Celanese`s Gulf Coast plants and from other nearby chemical manufacturers. In addition to processing wastes, the facility will generate a syngas product that will be used onsite as a raw material during chemical manufacturing. Presented are the results of commercial-scale demonstrations using a prototype molten metal reactor for a wide range of industrial waste streams.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/253644}, journal = {Environmental Engineering World},
number = 3,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}