Supercritical water oxidation process of organics with inorganics

A method for oxidizing organic materials, in the presence of an inorganic material and water, in an elongate tubular reactor having a substantially constant internal diameter from an inlet, of an inlet end of the elongate tubular reactor, to an outlet, of an outlet end of the elongate tubular reactor, comprising the steps of:

• a) forming a pressurized reaction mixture of organic material, inorganic material, water and a source of oxygen, said pressurized reaction mixture having a pressure which is supercritical for water;
• b) passing the pressurized reaction mixture through said elongate tubular reactor at a velocity sufficient to prevent settling of a substantial portion of solid particles from the reaction mixture within the elongate tubular reactor;
• c) introducing sufficient heat to the pressurized reaction mixture in the elongate tubular reactor to cause a substantial portion of the organic material in the reaction mixture to oxidize, the temperature of the reaction mixture being elevated to at least the supercritical temperature for water;
• d) cooling the reaction mixture within the elongate tubular reactor, but at the outlet end of said elongate tubular reactor, to a temperature sufficient to cause formation of gas and liquid phases in the reaction mixture, the liquid phase including solid particles;
• and
• e) discharging the reaction mixture from the elongate tubular reactor at the outlet to thereby form an effluent mixture including solid particles, a liquid and a gas.