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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY BULLETIN: DEVELOPMENT OF A PHOTOTHERMAL DETOXIFICATION UNIT - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING GROUP - UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Citation:
Chen*, C T. EMERGING TECHNOLOGY BULLETIN: DEVELOPMENT OF A PHOTOTHERMAL DETOXIFICATION UNIT - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING GROUP - UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON RESEARCH INSTITUTE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/540/F-95/505, 1995.
Description:
The University of Dayton Research Institute has developed a novel photochemical process embodied in a device called a Photothermal Detoxification Unit (PDU) which offers an efficient means of destroying hazardous organic wastes. The PDU, which overcomes the problems of slow reaction rates and incomplete destruction of hazardous materials often associated with photochemical waste reduction, is a relatively simple device. It consists of a thermally insulated vessel enclosing a set of large, medium pressure mercury vapor lamps which provide an efficient source of near-UV radiation as well as heat for the process. The PDU uses the radiation from the lamps to induce destructive photochemical reactions at moderate temperatures (200-600°C) so they proceed to completion quickly and efficiently. Since the process requires both light and heat, it is referred to as a photothermal detoxification process. The process is capable of destroying organic materials at temperatures much lower than thermal processing alone and at temperatures easily achievable through non-combustion means. The specific exposure time, temperature and radiant intensity will be largely dependent on the materials of interest and the required level of destruction.