HIGH-TEMPERATURE NEUTRALIZATION OF SUPER TOXICAL SUBSTANCES

The proposed method is based on the thermochemical transformation of the neutralized substance and envisages: high-temperature decomposition process ( at 2,000-3,500^oC), final oxidation, chemical binding of the products resulting from decomposition, and a high-speed neutralization and catching system for poorly toxic chemical compounds.

As far as its physical and chemical processes are concerned, the temperature range proposed is intermediate between the common combustion ( T < 1,500^oC) and the plasma-based neutralization requiring very high temperatures (hundreds of thousands degrees). The temperature range ( 2,000-3,000^oC) makes it possible to exclude processes leading to formation of dioxine-type highly toxic intermediate compounds which is typical of common combustion, and to avoid the main disadvantages of the plasma-based method because of its complicated character and expensive technologies involved. As far as the set of ecological, energy-consuming and economic indices is concerned, the technological process based on the proposed method makes it possible to maximally aproach the solution of the problem relating to neutralization of super toxic substances.

The equipment used is similar to that used in rocket technology. Its main components ( combustion chamber is that used in a rocket engine, reaction chamber, absorber) are placed one after another and run in the way in which the process is organized in a high-speed flow, and this is what distinguishes this equipment from incinerators and plasma-type neutralization chambers running under the "combustion-in-volume" principle.

The equipment complete with elements and units from rocket engines provides for a high level of power capacity, small overall dimensions and high degree of automation and control. With its overal dimensions being 8 x 1.5 x 1.5 meters the equipment's output is one ton of neutralized substance per hour.

Exposed to high temperatures, the samples of such major types of toxic compounds as those containing chlorine, fluor and sulfur decomposed. Polybiphenil chlorides, pesticides and herbicides, as well as phenol-based disinfectant liquids were decomposed in the same way.

Exhaust gases composition control is carried out by chromatography combined with the plasma-ionizing detection method.

The HCL content in exhaust gases was 14 mg per cub meter against the approved 30 mg per cub meter standard level; HF -0.14 mg per cub meter (against 2mg per cub meter); SO2 -0.01 mg per cub meter (against 50 mg per cub meter); PH3 - 0.23 mg per cub meter. No dioxines were found either in absorbing solution or in solid sediment.

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