Complete dissolution and oxidation of organic wastes in water

This book is about using supercritical water (SCW)
process to dissolve organic wastes, and subsequent
using oxygen to completely destroy the wastes by
homogeneous oxidation. First, properties of SCW were
introduced, and its peculiar properties were used to
dissolve organics for oxidation. Phase behavior of
pure organics were studied in an optical micro-
reactor diamond anvil cell (DAC) coupled with
optical & FT-IR microscopes. Oxidation experiments
in SCW were performed in larger batch and flow
reactors for complex wastes. From the visual
observations in the DAC, homogeneous phases with
water were found for cellulose, naphthalene, benzo(a)
pyrene and polystyrene. Complete dissolution of
decachlorobiphenyl occurred only when O2/Na2CO3 was
present. The homogeneous conditions were used for
the oxidation of a complex De-inking sludge waste
that was mainly composed of the above pure organics
and heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd) in larger reactors. It
was found that all organics in the sludge could be
almost completely oxidized. The heavy metal salts
were effectively removed by precipitation to
insoluble oxides and salts with little leachability.

Autorentext

Dr. Zhen Fang, a Prof. at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who found that cellulose, wood and plastics can completely dissolve and hydrolyze in hot water. Polymers & biomass were converted to fuels, toxic organics were destroyed by oxidation, and nanoparticles were synthesized in supercritical water.

Klappentext

This book is about using supercritical water (SCW) process to dissolve organic wastes, and subsequent using oxygen to completely destroy the wastes by homogeneous oxidation. First, properties of SCW were introduced, and its peculiar properties were used to dissolve organics for oxidation. Phase behavior of pure organics were studied in an optical micro-reactor diamond anvil cell (DAC) coupled with optical & FT-IR microscopes. Oxidation experiments in SCW were performed in larger batch and flow reactors for complex wastes. From the visual observations in the DAC, homogeneous phases with water were found for cellulose, naphthalene, benzo(a)pyrene and polystyrene. Complete dissolution of decachlorobiphenyl occurred only when O2/Na2CO3 was present. The homogeneous conditions were used for the oxidation of a complex De-inking sludge waste that was mainly composed of the above pure organics and heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cd) in larger reactors. It was found that all organics in the sludge could be almost completely oxidized. The heavy metal salts were effectively removed by precipitation to insoluble oxides and salts with little leachability.