Hazardous or toxic waste destruction or containment – Containment – Solidification – vitrification – or cementation
Patent
1998-06-08
2000-08-08
Griffin, Steven P.
Hazardous or toxic waste destruction or containment
Containment
Solidification, vitrification, or cementation
588206, 588207, 588215, 588218, 588238, 588242, A62D 300
Patent
active
061004405
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention refers to a decontamination and treatment process for a liquid, gaseous or solid matrix, containing contaminants, undesired substances or compounds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous organic contaminants represent a danger to the environment and public health. Some classes of organic contaminants, (i.e. halogenated substances) have a high priority for concern, due to their chemical inertness and resistance to natural degradation in the environment. Halogenated substances maintain characteristics of persistency, harmfulness and toxicity for a long time (decades), with the possibility of bio-accumulation in various living species, posing permanent damage to living organism and in mankind. Some of these halogenated compounds (i.e. PCDDs and PCDFS) also present carcinogen, teratogen and mutagen risks.
In the last decades several methods for the treatment and the disposal of halogenated organic compounds have been proposed, such as controlled thermodestruction and the use of "secure" landfills. However, it has been found that, for the disposal of materials contaminated by toxic and halogenated compounds, these methods are not completely satisfactory, especially on large scales, and when the recovery of recyclable materials is desirable. In some instances, the correct disposal of wastes containing these compounds is impossible, since some countries are totally lacking in appropriate disposal systems (i.e. currently Italy).
Several chemical processes for the decomposition of halogenated organic compounds have been developed. Pytlewski and Smith, in their U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,337,368 and 4,236,090, demonstrated that polyhalogenated organic compounds were decomposed by reaction with a pre-formed organo-sodium reagent, such as sodium naphthalenide, NaPEG. In these ceases, the use of metallic sodium metal requires special handling procedures and specialized equipment. Even mere traces of water in suspension must be eliminated, so as to avoid dangerous side reactions that could cause explosions and fires.
Later, Brunelle of General Electric, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,351,718 and 4,353,793, proposed the removal of polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons dissolved in an organic solvent, such as transformer oil, by creating the solution with a mixture of polyethylene glycol or monocapped polyalkyleneglycol alkyl ether and an alkali metal hydroxide.
It has been found that such reactions require extended periods of time to reduce the concentration of halogenated contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), to a level generally acceptable by the regulations effective in various countries.
Peterson of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation in U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,028 proposed to reduce the level of halogenated aromatics in a hydrocarbon stream by treatment with an alkaline reactant in a sulfoxide solvent. This process involves a further purification step to remove the sulfoxide solvent, after decontamination. The resulting decontaminated fluid is reused.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,742 and Eur. Pat. No. 0 118 858, Tundo disclosed a method for the decomposition of halogenated organic compounds by a reagent which consists of (a) polyethylene glycol, Nixolens.RTM., an alcohol or polyhydroxy compounds, (b) a base, such a carbonate or bicarbonate of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth carbonate and (c) an oxidative agent, such as Na.sub.2 O.sub.2 and BaO.sub.2, or a source of radicals in the absence of oxygen. This method is applicable to the decontamination of mineral oil, soil and various porous surfaces. But the use of sodium peroxide, or other oxidative agents, and the use of a source of free radicals, poses potential explosion and fire hazards. Also, this method can be prohibitively expensive because of the cost of peroxide.
Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,042 and Eur Pat No. 0 135 043, Tumiatti et al. described a continuous decontamination process with a dehalogenation bed, which is composed of a polyethylene glycol or a copolymer of various alkene oxides in a certain proportion, and an alk
REFERENCES:
patent: 4967673 (1990-11-01), Gunn
patent: 5663479 (1997-09-01), Tumiatti
patent: 5705140 (1998-01-01), Johansing, Jr.
Kapila Shubhender
Tumiatti Wander
Griffin Steven P.
Nave Eileen E.
Sea Marconi Technologies di Wander Tumiatti S.A.S.
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