Enhancement Of Solvent Incineration Kinetics

Incineration is an effective method for destroying certain hazardous wastes. Solvents and other hazardous liquids that are sprayed into an incinerator evaporate, mix with air, and then are oxidized. The kinetics of such oxidation reactions are important to the final percent destruction achieved at any given time and temperature in the incinerator. This research project investigates the effects of certain additives, namely hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3) on the kinetics of oxidation of certain solvent vapors in the 500 to 700°C range. Experimental equipments has been assembled and operated to test the percent destruction of heptane vapors in an externally heated quartz tube as a function of temperature, residence time, and additive injection rates. Over the past few months, experimental problems have been overcome, and data are being taken for the heptane-in-air/H2O2 system. Initial results show a marked increase in oxidation of heptane with the presence of less-than-stoichiometric amounts of H2O2. Specifically, based on limited data, heptane destruction (at 550°C and 0.5 seconds) has been observed to increase from near zero (with no H2O2) to the 15 to 20 percent range upon addition of H2O2 at molar ratios of 1:10 (H2O2/heptane). At 650°C and 0.9 seconds, heptane destruction increases from 28 percent (no H2O2) to 50 percent (H2O2:heptane = 1:2.5). Furthermore, several hydrocarbon intermediates are produced as well as significant quantities of carbon monoxide. Kinetic models to describe the system are being developed