Fate of Nitrogen in Nitrogen-Containing Compounds during Cocurrent Flow Gasification (ChemChar Process)

Abstract

This paper reports the results for the cocurrent flow gasification (ChemChar process) of several nitrogen-containing hazardous waste surrogate compounds loaded on a sorptive char matrix. Wastes were loaded onto the macroporous char, and a stream of oxygen passed through the char to sustain a thermochemical reaction zone in which all wastes were subjected to high-temperature reducing conditions. The reducing environment present in the cocurrent flow gasification process converts chemically bound nitrogen predominantly to N2. Under some conditions, significant amounts of NH3 are produced, and nitrile compounds generate some HCN. No nitrogen oxides were produced. Mass balances for nitrogen obtained in this study accounted for 90−115% of the total nitrogen present in compounds gasified.