Development of a novel wet oxidation process for hazardous and mixed wastes
Many DOE waste streams and remediates contain complex and variable mixtures of organic compounds, toxic metals, and radionuclides. These materials are often dispersed in organic or inorganic matrices, such as personal protective equipment, various sludges, soils, and water. The over all objective of the effort described here is to develop a novel catalytic wet oxidation process for the treatment of these multi-component wastes, with the aim of providing a versatile, non-thermal method which will destroy hazardous organic compounds while simultaneously containing and concentrating toxic and radioactive metals for recovery or disposal in a readily stabilized matrix. The DETOX process uses a unique combination of metal catalysts to increase the rate of oxidation of organic materials. The metal catalysts are in the form of salts dissolved in a dilute acid solution. A typical catalyst composition is 60% ferric chloride, 3--4% hydrochloric acid, 0.13% platinum ions, and 0.13% ruthenium ions in a water solution. The catalyst solution is maintained at 423--473 K. Wastes are introduced into contact with the solution, where their organic portion is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. If the organic portion is chlorinated, hydrogen chloride will be produced as a product. The process is a viable alternative to incineration for the treatment of organic mixed wastes. Estimated costs for waste treatment using the process are from $2.50/kg to $25.00/kg, depending on the size of the unit and the amount of waste processed. Process units can be mobile for on-site treatment of wastes. Results from phase 1 and 2, design and engineering studies, are described.
- Research Organization:
- Delphi Research, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC21-92MC29107
- OSTI ID:
- 28227
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/MC/29107-95/C0413; CONF-9411149-10; ON: DE95007568; TRN: 95:008337
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Opportunity 95: environmental technology through small business, Morgantown, WV (United States), 16-17 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WET OXIDATION PROCESSES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDATION
DETOXIFICATION
IRON CHLORIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
COST ESTIMATION
PVC
PICRIC ACID
POLYCYCLIC SULFUR HETEROCYCLES
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ARSENIC
BARIUM
BERYLLIUM
CADMIUM
CERIUM
CHROMIUM
LEAD
MERCURY
NEODYMIUM
NICKEL
VANADIUM