WO1998012003A1 - Treatment of waste - Google Patents
Treatment of waste Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998012003A1 WO1998012003A1 PCT/GB1997/002535 GB9702535W WO9812003A1 WO 1998012003 A1 WO1998012003 A1 WO 1998012003A1 GB 9702535 W GB9702535 W GB 9702535W WO 9812003 A1 WO9812003 A1 WO 9812003A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- waste
- temperature
- wet oxidation
- minus
- water
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 47
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 238000009279 wet oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000013467 fragmentation Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000006062 fragmentation reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000010815 organic waste Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 3
- CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ozone Chemical compound [O-][O+]=O CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010808 liquid waste Substances 0.000 description 2
- VUZPPFZMUPKLLV-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane;hydrate Chemical compound C.O VUZPPFZMUPKLLV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000009284 supercritical water oxidation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 1
- MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dioxygen Chemical compound O=O MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000219146 Gossypium Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000012634 fragment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910010272 inorganic material Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011147 inorganic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002925 low-level radioactive waste Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002906 medical waste Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002483 medication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 231100000252 nontoxic Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000003000 nontoxic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000005416 organic matter Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000704 physical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004810 polytetrafluoroethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001343 polytetrafluoroethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000941 radioactive substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010801 sewage sludge Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001117 sulphuric acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011149 sulphuric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004017 vitrification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009736 wetting Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F11/00—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor
- C02F11/06—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by oxidation
- C02F11/08—Wet air oxidation
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L11/00—Methods specially adapted for refuse
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09B—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B09B3/00—Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
- B09B—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B09B3/00—Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
- B09B3/0075—Disposal of medical waste
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
- G21F9/00—Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
- G21F9/28—Treating solids
- G21F9/30—Processing
Definitions
- This invention relates to the treatment of waste and, more particularly to the treatment and/or sterilisation of organic, medical, animal/human tissue and low level radioactive wastes.
- waste material are continually being generated, for example in the medical industry and in hospitals, which requires disposal by treatment, including incineration or vitrification involving the burning of such waste, or by storage in landfill sites with or without such treatment.
- a method of treating waste material which comprises cooling the material to a temperature below 0°C in the presence of water, fragmenting the cooled waste and subjecting the fragmented waste to a wet oxidation process.
- the waste material may already be in an aqueus environmental in its original form but generally sufficient water or liquid waste should be added to the material, for example in a mixer or blender, prior to the cooling stage to dampen or to wet any dry components of the waste; alternatively a fine water spray may be used.
- the dampening/wetting step is essential as the water droplets are absorbed in to at least certain components of the waste, for example cloth, linen, gauze and other fabrics and fibrous substances, and therefore can ease the fragmentation step by rigidifying fibres not normally rigidified by simple cooling of the material.
- the overall temperature of the waste material is reduced during the cooling step to at least minus 20°C, and more preferably to at least minus 30°C.
- the temperature is reduced to between minus 40°C and minus 100°C.
- the waste material comprises or contains plastics, for example nylon, PTFE, polyethylene, etc temperatures as low as minus 120°C or lower will generally be required.
- plastic material is separated from other waste prior to the cooling step and thereafter separately fragmented, for example at ambient temperatures.
- a liquid cryogen such as liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide is employed in heat exchange apparatus for example a rotary drum or freezing tunnel or by direct injection in to, or fine spray on to, the waste material.
- the fragmentation step can be effected by any suitable types of equipment, for example a heavy duty hammer, vertical disintegrator or a suitable grinding device.
- the fragmentation step is a multi-stage (two or more) process in which the waste is first broken in to coarse fragments and then fragmented in to finer particles, for example within the ranges of 0.1 to 1 mm in the subsequent stage or stages.
- the waste material particles from the first fragmentation process is from 3 to 10 mm, for example of the order of 6 mm, although longer stands of fibrous substances may also be present.
- the finer particles are then achieved in the subsequent stage(s).
- cryogen may be used in the fragmentation stage(s) as appropriate to retain the desired low temperature.
- Cryogen for example liquid nitrogen, consumption will generally be determined by the desired temperature and the specific grinding energy as expressed, for example, by KW/kg of material being processed.
- the fragmented waste should be mixed with water (or other liquid waste) and subjected to wet oxidation, preferably at an elevated temperature or elevated pressure (or both), to effect oxidation of the waste, primarily to carbon-dioxide and water and a non-toxic end product.
- a temperature of up to 320°C is preferred. Most preferably the temperature is from 200 to 300°C, for example from 240 to 290°C.
- a pressure of up to 150 bar is preferred. Most preferably, the pressure is from 30 to 170 bar, for example from 50 to 160 bar.
- An oxygen-containing gas is necessary to support the wet oxidation step.
- the step is conducted with a gas containing at least 80%, more preferably 90%, oxygen.
- the gas is substantially pure oxygen.
- the presence of a high percentage of oxygen reduces the volume of inert gases resulting from the wet oxidation step and therefore tends to minimise heat losses from the oxidation step and emissions of unreacted contaminants to the atmosphere.
- the waste may be rendered acidic through the addition of, for example, sulphuric acid.
- the wet oxidation stage can be or can be followed by a supercritical water oxidation in order to break down more resistant, for example refractory, substances.
- Supercritical water oxidation employs the high temperatures required for supercritical water to increase the rate of oxidation of the organic waste. As the water is heated above its critical temperature of 374°C and critical pressure of about 22.1 MPa, its density drops considerably - typical operating densities are 0.15 to 0.2 g/cm 3 - and the dielectric constant substantially decreases also. With these changes to the physical properties of the waste, organic waste is highly soluble but ionic waste is not. The organic waste is dissolved in an oxygen-containing environment and oxidation occurs rapidly in the high temperatures employed.
- the basic waste material may be separated to remove metal or plastic or other potentially undesirable substances prior to the first cooling step.
- additions of organic matter may be made to the waste prior to the wet oxidation step in order to improve the organic to inorganic material ratio to be fed in to the wet oxidation system for the purpose of an additional waste stream process and/or to improve and potentially enhance the performance of the wet oxidation system.
- organic matter for example sewage sludge
- the wet oxidation step may be carried out using an oxygen/ozone injection if required.
- soiled waste material comprising primarily hospital waste including cottons, gauzes, bandages and other substances was subjected to a moisturising step by spraying with water and thereafter to a cooling step in a rotary drum in to which a spray of liquid nitrogen cryogen was injected to reduce the temperature of the wetted waste of the order of minus 40°C. cryogen was injected to reduce the temperature of the wetted waste of the order of minus 40°C.
- the cooled waste was then subjected to a first fragmentation stage in a vertical disintegration apparatus employing a heavy duty hammer to reduce the waste to particles of about 6 mm in size but including some longer fibres.
- an industrial grinding machine was employed to reduce the waste down to a particle size of the order of 0.5 mm (and some longer fibres).
- the waste was then placed in a wet oxidation system in which, in a semi-continuous process in which the waste was acidified and fed through a chamber at a temperature of 275 °C and at a pressure of 100 bar, the waste was oxidised primarily to carbon dioxide and water leaving a sterile waste as the end product which could be safely disposed.
- the wet oxidation system may advantageously include a tall cylindrical chamber in which the waste is placed with an oxygen/ozone injection towards the bottom of the chamber so that an increased pressure is achieved from the weight of the waste above the oxidation zone of the chamber. Means may also be employed continually to remove oxidised material from the base of the chamber at a rate corresponding to the rate of production of oxidation products therein.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP97919170A EP0927084A1 (en) | 1996-09-19 | 1997-09-19 | Treatment of waste |
AU43103/97A AU4310397A (en) | 1996-09-19 | 1997-09-19 | Treatment of waste |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9619523.5A GB9619523D0 (en) | 1996-09-19 | 1996-09-19 | Ferguson cryonator/cryotory |
GB9619523.5 | 1996-09-19 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1998012003A1 true WO1998012003A1 (en) | 1998-03-26 |
Family
ID=10800138
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1997/002535 WO1998012003A1 (en) | 1996-09-19 | 1997-09-19 | Treatment of waste |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0927084A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU4310397A (en) |
GB (1) | GB9619523D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998012003A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2001064587A2 (en) * | 2000-03-03 | 2001-09-07 | Micromining Technologies Int'l. Inc. | Method and unit for achieving highly effective oxidation treatments |
WO2003017288A1 (en) * | 2001-08-17 | 2003-02-27 | Framatome Anp Gmbh | Method for treating radioactive waste and system for implementing the method |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1507142A (en) * | 1974-04-10 | 1978-04-12 | Boc International Ltd | Treatment of waste material |
US4338199A (en) * | 1980-05-08 | 1982-07-06 | Modar, Inc. | Processing methods for the oxidation of organics in supercritical water |
US4349465A (en) * | 1979-04-21 | 1982-09-14 | Kewa Kernbrennstoff-Wiederaufarbeitungs-Gesellschaft Mbh | Process for the treatment of combustible, solid radioactive wastes |
JPS61141947A (en) * | 1984-12-14 | 1986-06-28 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Method of micronizing used ion exchange resin |
US4686068A (en) * | 1984-07-10 | 1987-08-11 | Toyo Engineering Corporation | Method of batchwise treating radioactive organic wastes |
US4770783A (en) * | 1986-01-15 | 1988-09-13 | Aktiebolaget Asea-Atom | Method of processing waste from a nuclear power plant, said waste comprising ion-exchange resin containing radioactive metals |
EP0454513A2 (en) * | 1990-03-23 | 1991-10-30 | Framatome | Process and furnace for treating wastes which can be incinerated |
-
1996
- 1996-09-19 GB GBGB9619523.5A patent/GB9619523D0/en active Pending
-
1997
- 1997-09-19 WO PCT/GB1997/002535 patent/WO1998012003A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-09-19 AU AU43103/97A patent/AU4310397A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-09-19 EP EP97919170A patent/EP0927084A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1507142A (en) * | 1974-04-10 | 1978-04-12 | Boc International Ltd | Treatment of waste material |
US4349465A (en) * | 1979-04-21 | 1982-09-14 | Kewa Kernbrennstoff-Wiederaufarbeitungs-Gesellschaft Mbh | Process for the treatment of combustible, solid radioactive wastes |
US4338199A (en) * | 1980-05-08 | 1982-07-06 | Modar, Inc. | Processing methods for the oxidation of organics in supercritical water |
US4338199B1 (en) * | 1980-05-08 | 1988-11-15 | ||
US4686068A (en) * | 1984-07-10 | 1987-08-11 | Toyo Engineering Corporation | Method of batchwise treating radioactive organic wastes |
JPS61141947A (en) * | 1984-12-14 | 1986-06-28 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Method of micronizing used ion exchange resin |
US4770783A (en) * | 1986-01-15 | 1988-09-13 | Aktiebolaget Asea-Atom | Method of processing waste from a nuclear power plant, said waste comprising ion-exchange resin containing radioactive metals |
EP0454513A2 (en) * | 1990-03-23 | 1991-10-30 | Framatome | Process and furnace for treating wastes which can be incinerated |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
DATABASE WPI Section Ch Week 8632, Derwent World Patents Index; Class J01, AN 86-208999, XP002050621 * |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2001064587A2 (en) * | 2000-03-03 | 2001-09-07 | Micromining Technologies Int'l. Inc. | Method and unit for achieving highly effective oxidation treatments |
WO2001064587A3 (en) * | 2000-03-03 | 2001-12-13 | Micromining Technologies Int L | Method and unit for achieving highly effective oxidation treatments |
WO2003017288A1 (en) * | 2001-08-17 | 2003-02-27 | Framatome Anp Gmbh | Method for treating radioactive waste and system for implementing the method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU4310397A (en) | 1998-04-14 |
EP0927084A1 (en) | 1999-07-07 |
GB9619523D0 (en) | 1996-10-30 |
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