Thermatrix, Inc.

John T Schofield

Richard J Martin

Mark R Holst

Ann C Heywood

The present invention reduces the sulfur and odor emissions from a paper-making Kraft process by recovering the sulfur in the non-combustible gases (NGCs) emitted by the Kraft process. In a first embodiment of the invention, the NGCs are flamelessly oxidized in a flameless thermal oxidizer to form a sulfur oxide-containing, gaseous products stream. The gaseous products stream is scrubbed with a scrubber solution stream to remove the sulfur components resulting in a scrubbed gas stream and spent scrubber solution stream having S.sub.2 O.sub.3 and SO.sub.4, and SO.sub.3 soluble salts. At least a portion of the spent scrubber solution from the scrubber is directed back into the Kraft process, thus recovering the sulfur. In a second general embodiment of the invention, the NGCs are flamelessly oxidized in a moving, packed bed calcinator. The calcinator receives a lime mud stream from the Kraft process, forms a packed bed therefrom, calcines the packed bed, and releases it as a quick lime stream. Concurrently, the NCGs are directed through the moving, packed bed and are flamelessly oxidized in a reaction wave in the packed bed to form a gaseous products stream with sulfur components. The sulfur components react with the packed bed to form sulfur/calcium components. The sulfur/calcium components exit the calcinator with the quick lime stream and are recovered by the Kraft process.

Method of removing sulfur from a process gas stream using a packed bed

Improved methods for the treatment of commingled wastes and process systems for practicing those methods are provided. The methods are practiced by first treating the commingled waste material in a primary treatment unit in the presence of a carrier fluid to separate the organic waste from the inorganic waste. The carrier fluid and the gaseous products from the primary unit are then treated in a flameless oxidizer, which efficiently destroys any remaining organic compounds. In one embodiment, the process gases exiting the flameless oxidizer are recycled to the primary treatment unit.

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Villanova, PA, United States of America

John T Schofield