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Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority

Robert A Ritter

An apparatus process is provided for the destruction of a toxic organic chlorine-containing compound, especially, a chlorine- and arsenic-containing compound. The apparatus includes a main reactor into which is introduced the chlorine-containing compound, e.g., a Lewisite as a mustard gas, an oxidizing agent and a pH controlling agent, the main reactor including a hot heat exchanger and a cold heat exchanger, a source of inert blanketing gas to provide an oxidation product of the organic original chlorine-containing compound. Preferably, after completion of the oxidizing reaction, any residual oxidizing agent is catalytically decomposed. Then, the oxidation product of the original organic chlorine-containing compound, is preferably decomposed in a catalyst containing vessel at an alkaline pH, e.g., to a maximum final pH of about 11 in a liquid knockout vessel which includes a lower liquid discharge and an upper gaseous discharge connected to a vented absorber vessel to provide an inorganic compound, e.g. an inorganic arsenic-containing-compound. Such compound can easily and safely be disposed of.

Sequential batch chemical apparatus for destruction of toxic organic

A sequential process is provided for the destruction of a toxic organic chlorine-containing compound, especially a chlorine- and arsenic-containing compound e.g., a Lewisite or a mustard gas. The process includes the first step of carrying out an oxidizing reaction between the chlorine-containing compound, and an oxidizing agent, especially hydrogen peroxide, while maintaining the temperature and the pH within preselected ranges e.g., about 50.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C. and the pH starting at about 1 to about 2 during the oxidation and terminating at about 5 to about 8 to provide an oxidation product of the original toxic organic chlorine-containing compound, original toxic chlorine- and arsenic-containing compound. After completion of the oxidizing reaction, any residual oxidizing agent is preferably catalytically decomposed. Then, the oxidation product of the original toxic organic chlorine-containing compound, is decomposed at an alkaline pH, e.g., to a maximum final pH of about 11 to provide an inorganic compound, e.g., an inorganic arsenic-containing compound. Such compound can easily and safely be disposed of.

Chemical destruction of toxic organic compounds

A method is provided for the treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by chemical hydrolysis and/or oxidation of said hydrocarbons on the hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. The method includes conditioning lime with a particularly defined fatty-acid activator. The so-conditioned lime is blended with physically-preconditioned, moist, hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, the degree of dispersion being at least near microscopic level. A charge of the such blended lime/soil is conveyed to an enclosed reaction vessel, where hydration of the lime is carried out. The heat of the hydration reaction is retained within the vessel, so that hydrolysis of the fatty acid conditioner and/or hydrocarbon contaminants in the soil is effected. Air or oxygen-enriched air is substantially-simultaneously introduced into the reaction vessel together with steam and/or water as required by the chemical reactions, thereby to effect a flameless, intermediate-temperature oxidation of the hydrocarbons or their hydrolyzed degradation products. Such decontaminated soil product is discharged from the reaction vessel by passing the soil product, in dry, dusty hydrophobic form through a treating zone where it is sprayed with a surfactant. The surfactant-treated decontaminated soil product is passed to a blender where it is mixed with sufficient water to provide a substantially dust-free product.

Method and process for rendering waste substances harmless

A method is provided for the treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by chemical hydrolysis and/or oxidation of the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. The method includes conditioning lime with a fatty acid hydrophobizing agent. The fatty acid treated lime is preheated to a temperature of about 50.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C. to provide conditioned lime.

Method for rendering waste substances harmless

A novel hydrophobizing agent is provided for use in a composition for rendering waste substances harmless. The agent comprises a liquid blend of a specified mixture of liquid fatty acids having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms and a specified mixture of glycerides of fatty acids having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

Composition for rendering waste substances harmless

A novel hydrophobizing agent is provided for use in a composition for rendering waste substances harmless. The agent comprises a blend which is liquid at room temperature and is readily-atomizable of a specified mixture of liquid fatty acids having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms and a specified mixture of glycerides of fatty acids having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

A hazardous waste incinerator is provided herein. The incinerator includes a sealed, inner incineration chamber which is either made from, or which is lined with a non-porous, impervious corrosion-resistant lining, the inner incineration chamber including a means for supporting hazardous waste to be incinerated, and a recirculating blower. An insulated outer combustion chamber is provided in sealed, spaced-apart relationship to the inner incineration chamber. The heat produced in the outer combustion chamber induces incineration of hazardous waste in the incinerator chamber, the products of incineration of the hazardous waste being separate and distinct from the products of combustion in the combustion chamber.

Lined hazardous waste incinerator

A clarifier is provided for simultaneously treating a plurality of bodies of liquid-solid suspension in a vertically stacked fashion, with the aim of separating the particulate solids from the liquid, by process steps involving a combination of electrophoresis and reverse osmosis. The clarifier comprises a conical shell which is mounted on a shaft for rotation. The shaft extends through the apex of the shell and is disposed at an upward angle, so that the base of the shell is tilted. A plurality of nested, spaced apart, truncated, conical bands are secured to the inner surface of the shell. The bands each carry an elongate anode electrode on the upper surface and an elongate cathode electrode on the lower surface. Thus there are formed a plurality of vertically stacked, endless, arcuate treatment chambers, with an elongate anode extending along the base and an elongate cathode electrode extending along the top of each chamber. A trough-like container closely surrounds the lower portion of the conical unit, to provide the inner wall for each treatment chamber. The upper portion of the conical unit overhangs the container. In use, fresh suspension is fed into one end of the portion of each chamber in the container. Substantially solids-free liquid is removed from the other end of each such chamber portion. The shell and bands are continuously rotating. Electric potential is applied to the electrodes to cause solids to deposit and dry on the anode. When the deposits are raised by the rotating bands, to overhang the container, the deposits drop free of the conical unit, for separate recovery.

Apparatus for continuously separating particulate solids from liquid

A stepping commutator is provided for supplying power to a plurality of electrode plates mounted on a rotating shaft. The commutator comprises a central annular plate which is fixed to the shaft. The plate has a ring of cylindrical stationary contacts mounted therein concentrically about the shaft, so that they rotate with the shaft. Means are provided for connecting the contacts with the electrode plates. A pair of annular second plates bracket the central plate. Said pair of second plates are free to rotate on the shaft. Each such second plate carries a ring of horizontally slidable cylindrical contacts arranged to correspond with the central contacts. Said slidable contacts are connected with a power source. Means are provided for biasing the slidable contacts into or out of engagement with the central contacts, when appropriate. Means are provided to interconnect the two second plates so that, when one second plate rotates through a small angle, the other second plate rotates through an equal and opposite angle. A microswitch assembly controls the assembly to actuate the biasing means to slide one set of movable contacts into engagement with the central contacts and then to slide the second set of movable contacts into such engagement while withdrawing the first set.

Commutator

An aqueous suspension of fine mineral solids, for example oil sand tailings sludge, is separated into separate solid and liquid components by first chemically conditioning the suspension with the addition of lime, and thereafter passing an electrical potential between electrodes submerged in the suspension. The electrical potential causes the solids to migrate toward, and deposit on, the positive of the electrodes. The lime pre-treatment allows the electrode deposit to dry, through electroosmosis, to render it sufficiently dry by disposal. The chemical conditioning step preferably includes adding a carbonate- or bicarbonate-forming reagent after the lime addition.

Electrophoretic process for separating aqueous mineral suspensions

A multiple vessel cascade gas enrichment diaphragm valve/hollow gas-conducting tube combination is provided to control the flow of gas, which combination is particularly useful in an adsorber. The combination includes a capped hollow core connected at only one area to the hollow, gas-conducting tube, the capped, hollow core being provided with one or more perforations through the wall thereof and with a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart annular protrusions, one on each longitudinal side of the perforations. A molded cylindrical tubular elastomeric diaphragm is secured concentrically to the hollow core at the annular protrusions. The diaphragm has walls adjacent the secured ends thereof which are thicker internally than the walls at the region of the perforations, so as to maintain the outer cylindrical tubular shape of the diaphragm. The thicker internal walls each are provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart abutments. The diaphragm thereby provides an annular flow path for gas between the outside walls of the diaphragm and the inner walls of the hollow, gas-conducting tube to permit the flow of gas therethrough. An annular encircling band surrounds the diaphragm at the annular protrusions, with each pair of longitudinally spaced-apart abutments being disposed on either side of an associated protrusion, the band being radially spaced from the inner walls of the gas-conducting tube. This urges the diaphragm against the protrusions. Gaseous pressure is supplied to the interior of the capped hollow core. When the gaseous pressure is applied, this serves to expand the diaphragm radially outwardly so that its outside walls are urged into sealing engagement with the inner walls of the hollow gas conducting tube, to stop the flow of gas therethrough.

Diaphragm valve for multiple vessel cascade gas enrichment system

A multiple vessel cascade gas enrichment adsorber is provided herein. Two sets of adsorption chambers are provided, each comprising one primary vessel and one secondary vessel, and optionally also a tertiary or further vessel, and each containing a suitable adsorbent, e.g., 5 A molecular sieve adsorbent for air separation, the vessels being connected in a cascading connection through an interstage loop line. Specially designed collector means is provided within each vessel. The individual volumetric size of the subsequent stage vessel or vessels must be smaller than the volumetric size of the first stage vessel. While one adsorber set is engaged in the production of, e.g., oxygen-enriched air, the other is experiencing regeneration through removal of the various adsorbed gases and vapors, including, e.g., nitrogen. The cascading of the adsorbers significantly decreases the time required for regeneration by increasing the tolerance for residual adsorbate on the major portion of the adsorbent. Despite the cyclic nature of the process, the flow of product, e.g., oxygen, is continuous.

Multiple vessel cascade gas enrichment system

A back pressure regulator and non-return valve is provided herein. It includes a hollow plug having an open inlet end and a closed end having a central aperture therethrough. A closure cap is hermetically slidably disposed within the hollow plug. A plurality of outlet perforations are provided from the hollow plug, the apertures being disposed along helical paths along the outer periphery thereof. Finally, a tubular resilient diaphragm sleeve of non-uniform wall thickness envelopes the apertured portion of the hollow plug, the resilient sleeve being secured to the hollow plug at its base only adjacent the open inlet end thereof. Control of the outflow through an annular outflow path between the hollow plug and the tubular resilient diaphragm to require greater gaseous pressure is provided by changing the number of the outlet apertures in the effective outlet length of the hollow plug. The threshold pressure required to move the diaphragm away from the hollow plug to provide the annular outflow path is increased, dependent on the wall thickness. Gas having a pressure lower than that threshold pressure will not flow out. Non-return function is provided by gas pressure on the outside of the tubular resilient diaphragm which seals the annular outflow path.

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Vancouver, Canada

Robert A Ritter