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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY REPORT: DEVELOPMENT OF A PHOTOTHERMAL DETOXIFICATION UNIT
Citation:
Graham, J. L., B. Dellinger, AND Swartzbaugh. EMERGING TECHNOLOGY REPORT: DEVELOPMENT OF A PHOTOTHERMAL DETOXIFICATION UNIT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/540/R-95/526 (NTIS 95-255733), 1995.
Description:
There has long been interest in utilizing photochemical methods for destroying hazardous organic materials. Unfortunately, the direct application of classic, low temperature photochemical processes to hazardous waste detoxification are often too slow to be practical for wide spread use. Furthermore, low-temperature protochemical processes often fail to completely convert the targeted wastes to mineral products of complete conversion which are either harmless to the environment or easily scrubbed from the system effluent. Researchers at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) have developed a unique photothermal process that overcomes many of the problems previously encountered with direct photochemical detoxification techniques. Specifically, it has been found that there are numerous advantages to conducting a photochemical detoxification at relatively high temperatures. Under the conditions of simultaneous exposure to heat and ultraviolet (UV) radiation the rate of destructive photothermal reactions can be greatly increased and that these reactions result in the complete mineralization of the waste feed. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that at the elevated temperatures used in this process the efficiency of UV radiation adsorption also increases resulting in an overall improvement in process efficiency. These features (i.e., fast, efficient, and complete destruction of organic wastes) makes this process a promising technique for destroying hazardous organic wastes in the gas-phase. The authors present the theoretical foundation for the photothermal detoxification process along with a summary of the results from a bench-scale flow reactor system. The basic design, capital cost, and oeprating cost for a full-scale flow reactor system using currently available industrial illumination equipment is also presented. This report was submitted in fulfillment of Cooperative Agreement CR819594-01-0 by the University of Dayton Research Institute, Environmental Science and Engineering Group, under the (partial) sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This report covers a period from October 1, 1992 to December 30, 1994, and work was completed as of December 30.