Chemical Processing in High-Pressure Aqueous Environments. 6. Demonstration of Catalytic Gasification for Chemical Manufacturing Wastewater Cleanup in Industrial Plants

Abstract

Catalytic gasification of organics has been demonstrated at the engineering development scale as an option for chemical manufacturing wastewater cleanup. A high-pressure (about 20 MPa) and high-temperature (about 350 °C) liquid water processing environment was used to treat wastewaters at two industrial sites. Organic byproducts from chemical manufacturing were converted primarily to methane and carbon dioxide in the presence of a fixed bed of nickel/ruthenium catalyst. Test results with chemical manufacturing wastewater streams showed that this process could be effectively used with the appropriate catalyst to clean up wastewater and recover waste organics as useful fuel gas. Preliminary process economics were determined.