Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Stephen P Goff

Shoou-I Wang

Donald P Bucci

Wolfgang A Hochleitner

Michael S Chen

David M Nicholas

Joseph Klosek

Joseph P Bushinsky

Thomas M Roden

James VanOmmeren

John J Lewnard

Goutam H Shahani

Diane M DeVincentis

Matthew J Foder

Paul A Kinniry

Frank J Romano

This invention relates to an improved process for the coincineration of municipal solid waste and municipal sewage sludge by dewatering the sludge, breaking it up into sufficiently small particles and employing oxygen enrichment of the combustion process. These small particles of sludge are introduced into the combustion zone above the grate in the combustion zone but at a distance above the grate no higher than that of the point of introduction of secondary air. This is accomplished without undesired excursions of flue gas flow rate and temperature.

Process for combusting dewatered sludge waste in a municipal solid waste

Fly ash generated from incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) when placed in landfills can under mild acid conditions 1each lead and cadmium. A process for stabilizing lead in this fly ash is presented which involves calcining a mixture of the fly ash and certain calcium-containing compounds in the presence of an oxygen containing gas stream at a temperature greater than about 475.degree. C. and less than about 600.degree. C. for times from about 30 minutes up to about 5 hours. Such treated MSW fly ash will give leachates containing lead concentrations less than the EPA regulatory limit.

Fixation of heavy metals, mercury recovery and dioxins destruction in

Fly ash generated from incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) when placed in landfills can under mild acid conditions can leach lead and cadmium. A process for stabilizing heavy metals in this fly ash is presented which involves calcining the fly ash in the presence of an oxygen containing gas stream at a temperature greater than about 400.degree. C. and less than about 600.degree. C. for times from about 170 seconds up to about 5 hours fly ash which has been subjected to calcium scrubbing for acid gas removal. Such treated MSW fly ash will give leachates containing heavy metal concentrations less than the EPA regulatory limit.

A process for the stabilization of heavy metals in the ash produced by the combustion of a heavy metals containing fuel, such as municipal solid waste, by introducing into the combustion system a phosphorous oxide specie or elemental yellow phosphorus. The additive can be introduced at any point in the system upstream of the particulate removal device employed in the system. If elemental phosphorus is used, it must be introduced at a point in the system where it will be exposed to an elevated temperature and oxygen, so as to be converted to a phosphorus oxide specie. When elemental phosphorus is introduced into the system downstream of the combustion zone, it is also effective to reduce the NO content of the flue gas.

Method of stabilizing heavy metals in ash residues from combustion

A process is disclosed for controlling the combustion and temperature in an solid waste-to-steam incineration system comprising a grated combustion zone and a steam boiler. This control is achieved by a synergistic combination of oxygen enrichment of an air stream and liquid quench fed to the combustion zone. The disclosed process includes the steps of adjusting the amount of solid waste passing into the combustion zone in order to maintain a constant flow of steam leaving the steam boiler, adjusting the amount of liquid quench to the incinerator in order to maintain a constant temperature in the combustion zone and adjusting the amount of oxygen enrichment of the air stream in response to a change in flow of the liquid quench to the incinerator. An apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing is also disclosed.

Solid waste-to-steam incinerator capacity enhancement by combined oxygen

Separation and individual recovery of high purity hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a mixed gas stream containing these compounds in association with carbon dioxide and one or more minor components such as particularly methane, is achieved by pressure swing adsorption to remove contained carbon dioxide from the charged gas, and further treatment of the CO.sub.2 -freed gas product by a sequence of steps utilizing (a) pressure swing adsorption and (b) selective permeation through a series of semi-permeable membranes, which steps (a) and (b) are carried out in either order of sequence.

Production and recovery of hydrogen and carbon monoxide

The present invention involves a process for separating components of a feed gas containing acid gases and hydrocarbons to form a CO.sub.2 -rich stream, an H.sub.2 S-rich stream and a hydrocarbon-rich stream. Separation is achieved by initially passing the feed gas through a plurality of membrane separation units to produce a hydrocarbon stream and an acid gas stream. The acid gas stream undergoes further separation to produce a CO.sub.2 -rich product stream and an H.sub.2 S-rich stream. This process is especially adaptable for treating natural gas streams and gas streams resulting from enhanced oil recovery operations.

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Orefield, PA, United States of America

Stephen P Goff