Claims
- 1. A process for decontaminating a matrix, comprising the steps of:
- filling a first reactor having an end and opposite end with a particulate support comprising a solid matrix or a liquid or gaseous matrix impregnated onto said support, the said matrix being contaminated with halogenated organic compounds;
- treating said particulate support with a decontaminating reagent comprising:
- (a) one or more metals or metal oxides,
- (b) a polyalkyleneglycol or a random copolymer of an alkene oxide; and
- (c) a hydroxide, a C1-C6 alcoholate, or a carbonate or bicarbonate of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal;
- inducing an oxidative flow through the reactor from the reactor end,
- priming a thermoxidation reaction at the reactor opposite end, so that a flame front having a temperature of at least 1200.degree. C. is generated in the reactor, which flame front moves through the reactor in a direction opposite from the direction of the oxidative flow so as to substantially decompose or destroy the said halogenated organic compounds contained in the matrix, and
- passing gas and particulate leaving the first reactor following the thermoxidation reaction to the bottom of a second reactor containing a basified liquid.
- 2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the polyalkyleneglycol has the formula ##STR2## wherein: x is greater than or equal to 2;
- n is an integer from 1 to 500;
- R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight- or branched-chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, aralkyl and acyl;
- R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, same or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight- and branched-chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, and acyl.
- 3. The process according to claim 1 wherein:
- the mole ratio of the polyalkyleneglycol or the random copolymer of alkene oxide to halogen in the matrix to be decontaminated is from 1:1 to 30:1;
- the mole ratio of hydroxide or C1-C6 alcoholate to halogen in the matrix to be decontaminated is from 10:1 to 200:1; and
- the concentration of the metal is from about 0.02% to 5% by weight of the reaction mixture.
- 4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the matrix to be decontaminated and the decontaminating reagent are mixed, prior to the beginning of the thermoxidation reaction, with a mechanical mixer and with ultrasound.
- 5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the matrix to be decontaminated and the decontaminating reagent are irradiated by a source of ultraviolet rays, prior to the beginning of the thermoxidation reaction.
- 6. The process according to claim 1 wherein the impregnation of the particulate support with said liquid or gaseous matrix, and the treatment of the support with said decontaminating reagent, both occur at a temperature between ambient temperature and about 200.degree. C., said impregnation being performed until the particle support becomes saturated with said liquid or gaseous matrix.
- 7. The process according to claim 1, wherein said particulate support is impregnated by the liquid or gaseous matrix to be decontaminated, prior to the beginning of the thermoxidation reaction.
- 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein said basified liquid is recirculated through an adsorbing trap comprising a filtering particulate support particulate containing an adsorbing agent, said decontaminating reagent, or a combination thereof.
- 9. The process according to claim 1 wherein, gas exiting the second reactor passes through a third reactor containing an adsorbing porous material.
- 10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the gas exiting the third reactor passes through a pyrolytic torch prior to being released into the atmosphere.
- 11. The process according to claim 9, wherein the first, second and third reactors are of a column type and have a length-to-diameter ratio between 2 and 25.
- 12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the displacement of the flame front in the first reactor is such to retain for a time between 2 and 10 seconds in each section of the first reactor the conditions required for the development of the thermoxidation reaction.
- 13. The process according to claim 1, wherein a new priming of the thermoxidation reaction is generated in the first reactor end when the flame front reaches said end, said new priming being generated in such a manner so as to cause the flame front to move forward in the same direction as the oxidative flow in said first reactor.
- 14. The process according to claim 1, wherein said particulate support is porous and is selected from the group consisting of carbon, coke, activated carbon, activated alumina, nonactivated alumina, silica gel, fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth, pumice, zeolite, perlite, molecular sieves, said decontaminating reagent, silicates, functional ceramic, nonfunctional ceramic, sand, clay, metallic powders, sintered powders, metal oxides, filtration media, vegetable media and mixtures thereof.
- 15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the average granularity of said particulate support is between 0.01 and 250 mm.
- 16. The process according to claim 1, wherein said oxidative flow is of air or oxygen.
- 17. A process according to claim 1, in which said particulate support, said decontaminating reagent, or both is pre-formed on functional beds which are in the form of columns or cartridges.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
TO95A0702 |
Aug 1995 |
ITX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is the National Stage filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/EP96/03682, filed Aug. 21, 1996.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
PCT/EP96/03682 |
8/21/1996 |
|
|
6/8/1998 |
6/8/1998 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO97/07858 |
3/6/1997 |
|
|
US Referenced Citations (3)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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Country |
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Sep 1984 |
EPX |
0 135 043 |
Mar 1985 |
EPX |
0 451 006 |
Oct 1991 |
EPX |
WO 9414504 |
Jul 1994 |
WOX |
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Jul 1995 |
WOX |