GB2039774A - A Process and an Apparatus for the Pyrohydrolytic Decomposition of Organic Substances Containing Halogens and/or Phosphorus - Google Patents

A Process and an Apparatus for the Pyrohydrolytic Decomposition of Organic Substances Containing Halogens and/or Phosphorus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2039774A
GB2039774A GB7943906A GB7943906A GB2039774A GB 2039774 A GB2039774 A GB 2039774A GB 7943906 A GB7943906 A GB 7943906A GB 7943906 A GB7943906 A GB 7943906A GB 2039774 A GB2039774 A GB 2039774A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fluidised bed
organic substances
steam
calcium
decomposition
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
GB7943906A
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Nukem GmbH
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Nukem GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nukem GmbH filed Critical Nukem GmbH
Publication of GB2039774A publication Critical patent/GB2039774A/en
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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G21NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21FPROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
    • G21F9/00Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
    • G21F9/04Treating liquids
    • G21F9/06Processing
    • G21F9/14Processing by incineration; by calcination, e.g. desiccation
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J8/00Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
    • B01J8/18Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles
    • B01J8/24Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles according to "fluidised-bed" technique
    • B01J8/32Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with fluidised particles according to "fluidised-bed" technique with introduction into the fluidised bed of more than one kind of moving particles

Abstract

Organic substances containing halogens and/or phosphoric acid which accumulate in contaminated form, particularly in the reprocessing of nuclear fuels, are decomposed at 300 to 800 DEG C in a steam-operated fluidised bed consisting of granular basic aluminium and/or calcium and/or magnesium compounds. The bed is preferably formed of Ca(OH)2/CaO granulate, although aluminium oxide or burnt lime may also be used. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Process and an Apparatus for the Pyrohydrolytic Decomposition of Organic Substances Containing Halogens and/or Phosphorus This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the pyrohydrolytic decomposition of organic substances particularly contaminated organic substances, containing halogens (Cl, F, Br, I) and/or phosphorus.
In the nuclear field, there are a number of contaminated organic solvents and extractants which have to beeliminated. In particular, fissile products have to be able to be safely isolated from contaminated solutions of the type accumulating in the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels and to be able to be brought into a form in which they can be permanently stored. This applies above all to the highly active reprocessing extractant of which 30% consists of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and dodecane. However, it is also necessary in the conventional sector to be able to dispose of waste products of chlorinated and fluorinated solvents which cannot be burnt and which, at high temperatures, form highly corrosive hydrochloric acid or hydrofluoric acid.
Whereas in the radioactive sector intermediate storage has hitherto been essential, it has only been possible in the conventional sector to eliminate these waste products by burning them at sea which inevitably gives rise to pollution problems.
Although there is already a process for the pyrohydrolytic incineration of contaminated organic solid waste (German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,641,264), this process is unsuitable for halogenated, particularly fluorinated, organic substances on account of the formation of highly corrosive hydrofluoric acid. Neither can TBP be reacted in this way because, in this case, free phosphoric acid is formed.
A special process has been described for the elimination of TBP (cf. British Patent No.
1,517,014). In this process, the TBP is first separated from the dodecane with phosphoric acid (adduct process), after which the adduct is decomposed at 1 800C into phosphoric acid and butene. The butene is burnt, the highly active phosphoric acid is precipitated with milk of lime and the calcium phosphate formed is embedded in concrete for permanent storage. In this process, the addition of fresh phosphoric acid results in the formation of additional waste, so that it has not yet been possible successfully to apply this process in practice.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for the pyrohydrolytic decomposition of organic substances, particularly contaminated organic substances, containing halogen and/or phosphorus with which it is possible to eliminate any mixtures of organic substances without previous separation and without any concern for corrosive secondary products in such a way that only inactive waste gases and a readily reprocessible inorganic product including the fissile products are formed.
According to the invention the substances are introduced at a temperature of 300 to 8000C into a steam-operated fluidised bed consisting of granular basic aluminium and/or calcium and/or magnesium compounds. The inorganic acids liberated, such as hydrofluoric acid and phosphoric acid for example, form solid salts with the calcium, the magnesium or the aluminium.
Hydrochloric acid formed during pyrohydrolysis may also be retained at low temperatures, although it may also be eliminated in the form of HCI at relatively high temperatures, which is of advantage in some cases. The waste gases from this process are oxidised with oxygen or air at round 1 0000C, preferably in a post-combustion chamber, so that after the separation of hydrochloric acid in a following alkaline washer only carbon dioxide is left over as waste gas following condensation of the steam.
A granulate of calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide is preferably used for the fluidised bed, although aluminium oxide or burnt limestone for example may also be used.
The process according to the invention for the pyrohydrolytic decomposition of organic substances containing halogens and/or phosphorus is an endothermic process.
Accordingly, it may be very effectively controlled.
Hardly any liquid aerosols which could reduce activity are formed, instead only inactive gases are formed. The fissile products are included in the aluminium and/or calcium and/or magnesium compounds formed.
The process according to the invention is preferably carried out in an apparatus which comprises a fluidised bed furnace with or without a stirrer.
Accordingly the present invention also provides an apparatus comprising a fluidised bed furnace, having a granulate or a basic aluminium and/or calcium and/or magnesium compound as the fluidised bed with steam being used as the fluidising gas. The accompanying drawing diagrammatically illustrates one such apparatus.
An organic liquid to be decomposed is introduced into a fluidised bed 3 in a fluidised-bed furnace 2 through a feed pipe 1 at a temperature of from 300 to 8000 C. The required reaction temperature is obtained through a heating jacket 9 and superheated steam introduced through a feed pipe 5. The fluidised bed is preferably formed by Ca (OH)2/CaO granulate, steam being used as the fluidising gas. The quantity of organic substances introduced is determined by the amount of steam and the molar ratio of steam to hydrolysable bond in the organic substance should not fall below 2:1. After the CaO has been converted into calcium phosphate or calcium halide, the contents of the bed may be left off through a pipe 4.The waste gas consisting essentially of steam, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide passes through reversible filter candles 6 and is burnt with excess oxygen, preferably in anafter-burner 7, to form water and CO2. A following washer 8 operates at approximately 1 000C/pH 5, any hydrochloric acid formed being absorbed whilst CO2 and steam can escape. After aerosols have been retained on a deep-bed fibre filter 10, the steam present in the waste gases is condensed and returned to the fluidised-bed furnace.
The process according to the invention is illustrated by the following Examples: Example 1 60 kg of CaO granulate are contained in a fluidised-bed furnace at a temperature of 4000 C.
Steam superheated to 4000C (50 m3n/h) is used as the fluidising gas.
A TBP/kerosene (30/70)-mixture contaminated with highly enriched uranium is sprayed in below the fluidised bed in a quantity of 1 5 kg/h. 33 m3n/h of oxygen are fed into the after-burner operated at 1 0000C in order completely to react the waste-gases to form CO2 and H2O. After running for 36 hours, the fluidised bed is exhausted and no longer capable of binding phosphorus from the TBP in the form of phosphate. It has to be run off.The recycle water of the washer is found to contain only 0.02% of the activity fed into the fluidised bed, whereas in the waste gas outlet the radiometric measurements lie in the region of the zero level.m Example 2 60 kg of CaO granulate are introduced into a fluidised bed furnace at a temperature of from 500 to 8000C. 50 m3n/h of superheated steam are introduced as the fluidising gas. 50 kg/h of fluorinated hydrocarbon (C2F2CI4) contaminated with highly enriched uranium are introduced below the fluidised bed.
For 12 hours, the CaO in the fluidised bed is capable of binding the fluorine released from the fluorinated hydrocarbon in the form of calcium fluoride. The hydrogen chloride released is not bound at these reaction temperatures, but instead escapes through the after-burner into the washer operated at pH 5 in which the HCI is absorbed, whilst the CO2 formed in the after-burner passes through the washer. The after-burner is operated with 4m3n/h of oxygen at a temperature of 10000 C.
The recycle water of the washer contains, 0.03% of the activity fed into the fluidised bed.
The purified exhaust gas merely contains activity in the region of the zero level.

Claims (9)

Claims
1. A process for the pyrohydrolytic decomposition of organic substances containing halogens and/or phosphorous, which comprises introducing the substances at a temperature of from 300 to 8000C into a steam-operated fluidised bed consisting of granuiar basic aluminium and/or calcium and/or magnesium compounds.
2. A process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fluidised bed consists of calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide granulate.
3. A process as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the waste gases from the fluidised bed are burnt at about 1 0000C and washed with water at pH 5.
4. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the condensed steam in the waste gases is returned to the fluidised bed.
5. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein at most 0.5 mole of organic substance divided by the number of pyrohydrolysable bonds in the molecule of the particular substance is introduced per mole of steam used.
6. A process for the pyrohydrolytic decomposition of organic substances substantially as desecribed with particular reference to any of the Examples.
7. An apparatus for carrying out the process claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, comprising a fluidised bed furnace, having a granulate of a basic aluminium and/or calcium and/or magnesium compound as the fluidised bed with steam being used as the fluidising gas.
8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein an after-burner, a washer and a filter are connected to the fluidised bed furnace.
9. An apparatus for the pyrolytic decomposition of organic substances substantially as described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB7943906A 1978-12-22 1979-12-20 A Process and an Apparatus for the Pyrohydrolytic Decomposition of Organic Substances Containing Halogens and/or Phosphorus Withdrawn GB2039774A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2855650A DE2855650C2 (en) 1978-12-22 1978-12-22 Process for the pyrohydrolytic decomposition of phosphorus-containing liquids contaminated with highly enriched uranium

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2039774A true GB2039774A (en) 1980-08-20

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7943906A Withdrawn GB2039774A (en) 1978-12-22 1979-12-20 A Process and an Apparatus for the Pyrohydrolytic Decomposition of Organic Substances Containing Halogens and/or Phosphorus

Country Status (7)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5587099A (en)
BE (1) BE880783A (en)
BR (1) BR7908390A (en)
DE (1) DE2855650C2 (en)
FR (1) FR2444496A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2039774A (en)
IT (1) IT7968951A0 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10593437B2 (en) 2015-01-30 2020-03-17 Studsvik, Inc. Methods for treatment of radioactive organic waste

Families Citing this family (13)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4410126A (en) * 1978-10-12 1983-10-18 Cooper Industries, Inc. Mass soldering system
DE3028193C2 (en) * 1980-07-25 1984-11-22 Nukem Gmbh, 6450 Hanau Method and device for the pyrolytic decomposition of halogens and / or phosphorus-containing organic substances
CA1163431A (en) * 1982-08-20 1984-03-13 Atomic Energy Of Canada Limited - Energie Atomique Du Canada, Limitee Method of reducing the volume of radioactive waste
JPS59107300A (en) * 1982-12-10 1984-06-21 株式会社日立製作所 Method of processing radioactive resin waste
DE3443722A1 (en) * 1984-11-30 1986-06-12 Foerster Guenther Process for the thermal disposal of halogen compounds, in particular wastes containing chlorine compounds forming dioxins, phosgene and polychlorinated biphenyls and fluidised-bed reactor for carrying it out
DE3447337C2 (en) * 1984-12-24 1986-11-06 Nukem Gmbh, 6450 Hanau Process for the chemical-thermal decomposition of higher halogenated hydrocarbons
DE3604318C2 (en) * 1986-02-12 1994-01-13 Metallgesellschaft Ag Process for burning cow dung
CA1294111C (en) * 1986-08-08 1992-01-14 Douglas J. Hallett Process for the destruction of organic waste material
JPS63171398A (en) * 1987-01-09 1988-07-15 日本碍子株式会社 Method and device for processing radioactive waste
DE4021309A1 (en) * 1989-09-01 1991-03-07 Delta T Ingenieurtechnik & App Process thermally breaking down chemical and treating toxic residues - has number of indirectly heated fluidised bed incinerators used in series to provide efficient disposal of harmful chemicals
JPH04115390U (en) * 1991-03-29 1992-10-13 アイワ株式会社 Electronics
DE4118123A1 (en) * 1991-06-03 1992-12-10 Siemens Ag METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TREATING A RADIOACTIVE WASTE SOLUTION
DE102015115119A1 (en) * 2015-09-09 2017-03-09 Wehrle-Werk Ag Process for phosphorus recovery

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BE562779A (en) * 1956-11-30
FR1495622A (en) * 1966-08-12 1967-09-22 Commissariat Energie Atomique Fluorinated organic liquids incineration process
DE2056096B2 (en) * 1970-11-14 1978-09-28 Metallgesellschaft Ag, 6000 Frankfurt Process for the separation of hydrogen fluoride from gases
US3907674A (en) * 1974-04-24 1975-09-23 Dorr Oliver Inc Fluid bed incineration of wastes containing alkali metal chlorides
BE819818A (en) * 1974-09-12 1974-12-31 METHOD OF TREATING ORGANIC WASTE
DE2641264C2 (en) * 1976-09-14 1982-07-22 Nukem Gmbh, 6450 Hanau Process for the treatment of radioactively contaminated organic waste

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10593437B2 (en) 2015-01-30 2020-03-17 Studsvik, Inc. Methods for treatment of radioactive organic waste

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE880783A (en) 1980-06-20
IT7968951A0 (en) 1979-10-08
JPS5587099A (en) 1980-07-01
DE2855650A1 (en) 1980-07-17
FR2444496A1 (en) 1980-07-18
BR7908390A (en) 1980-10-07
DE2855650C2 (en) 1984-10-25

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