Destruction of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons by Catalytic Oxidation

Abstract : This report provides the results of a study conducted to determine the effectiveness of catalytic oxidation for destroying vapor phase chlorinated hydrocarbons. The study was conducted on two pilot scale catalytic incinerator systems leased from vendors. One system employed a metal oxide catalyst in a fluidized bed configuration. The other system used a fixed bed proprietary catalyst, supplemented with UV light and ozone injection. Both systems were tested under a variety of temperatures and space velocities. The test vapor streams consisted of low concentrations (3 to 200 ppmv) mixtures of organic compounds, and included three streams which represented the emissions from air strippers used to treat contaminated groundwater at U.S. Air Force bases. The study results showed that the fluidized bed catalytic incinerator system was capable of achieving total organic destruction efficiencies of greater than 98%. The UV/ozone catalytic system failed to achieve high destruction efficiencies; with ozone injection, total destruction was 75%; without ozone, the maximum destruction efficiency was 64%.