Aqueous phase oxidation techniques as an alternative to incineration

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has three aqueous phase techniques under development for oxidation of high value or high risk waste steams. One is direct electrochemical oxidation and one is mediated electrochemical oxidation utilizing regenerable, strongly oxidizing cations such as Ag(II), Co (III), Ce(IV), etc. These cations can either attack oxidizable materials directly and/or indirectly via first reacting with water to generate OH radicals which then attack the oxidizable materials. The third system utilizes H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and UV light to generate OH radicals directly which in turn attack the oxidizable materials. All systems have the advantage of a chemical off-switch in that when the power is turned off, the reaction quickly subsides. All systems operate with low concentrations (typically <5 wt %) of oxidizable materials, therefore, the stored energy for possible run-away reactions is very low. 15 figures, 22 references.