US 5,332,563 AGranted

Yellow phosphorus process to convert toxic chemicals to non-toxic products

AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California

InventorShih-Ger Chang

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for generating reactive species for destroying toxic chemicals. This process first contacts air or oxygen with aqueous emulsions of molten yellow phosphorus. This contact results in rapid production of abundant reactive species such as O, O.sub.3, PO, PO.sub.2, etc. A gaseous or liquid aqueous solution organic or inorganic chemicals is next contacted by these reactive species to reduce the concentration of toxic chemical and result in a non-toxic product. The final oxidation product of yellow phosphorus is phosphoric acid of a quality which can be recovered for commercial use. A process is developed such that the byproduct, phosphoric acid, is obtained without contamination of toxic species in liquids treated. A gas stream containing ozone without contamination of phosphorus containing species is also obtained in a simple and cost-effective manner. This process is demonstrated to be effective for destroying many types of toxic organic, or inorganic, compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), aromatic chlorides, amines, alcohols, acids, nitro aromatics, aliphatic chlorides, polynuclear aromatic compounds (PAH), dyes, pesticides, sulfides, hydroxyamines, ureas, dithionates and the like.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A process for reducing the concentrations of organic compounds, inorganic compounds of combinations thereof in a feed stream in the gas phase, which method comprises:

A. reacting air or oxygen with an aqueous emulsion of molten P.sub.4 producing oxidizing gaseous reagent, itself comprising O, ozone, phosphoric acid, PO, or PO.sub.2, and
B. concurrently or subsequently reacting the gaseous product of step (A) with a mixture at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic halogen compounds, aromatic halogen compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated biphenyls, nitroaromatics, aliphatic amines, aromatic amines, aliphatic acids, aromatic acids, aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, cyclic ketones, linear ketones, aromatic ketones, nitro-aliphatics, nitro-aromatics, aliphatic chlorides, aromatic chlorides, aromatic N-heterocyclics, dialkyl sulfides, chlorinated benzodioxins, organophosphorus pesticides, azo dyes, FREON.RTM.s, or combinations thereof, at least one inorganic compound selected from cyanide, hydroxylamine, nitrosoamine, dithionate, hydroxylamine disulfonate, amine trisulfonate, amine disulfonate, sulfamate, nitrosodisulfonate or mixtures thereof or combinations thereof, all in the gas phase for a time and at a temperature effective to reduce the concentration of at least one organic compound, the at least one inorganic compound or combinations thereof present in the gas;
C. removing the gas produced in step B now reduced in content of the at least one organic compound, the at least one inorganic compound or combinations thereof;
wherein the yellow phosphorus is present in between about 0.01 and 20% by weight of the water and the organic compound or inorganic compound to yellow phosphorus is present in between about 0.01 to 10% by weight;
wherein in each of step A and B, the reaction is performed in each at of a temperature between about 43.degree. and 100.degree. C.;
and
wherein the ozone produced in step A is reacted with the at least one organic compound, at least one inorganic compound or combinations thereof for between about 0.1 and 500 minutes in either a batch or a continuous flow reaction system.

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A process for reducing the concentrations of organic compounds, inorganic compounds or combinations thereof in liquid form, which method comprises:

AA. contacting air or oxygen with an aqueous emulsion of molten P.sub.4 producing a gaseous composition, itself comprising O, ozone, phosphoric acid, PO, or PO.sub.2 ;
and
BB. concurrently or sequentially reacting the gaseous product of step (AA) with an aqueous composition comprising at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic halogen compounds, aromatic halogen compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated biphenyls, nitroaromatics, aliphatic amines, aromatic amines, aliphatic acids, aromatic acids, aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, cyclic ketones, linear ketones, aromatic ketones, nitro-aliphatics, nitro-aromatics, aliphatic chlorides, aromatic chlorides, aromatic N-heterocyclics, dialkyl sulfides, chlorinated benzodioxins, organophosphorus pesticides, azo dyes, FREON.RTM.s, and combinations thereof, at least one inorganic compound selected from the group consisting of cyanide, hydroxylamine, nitrosoamine, dithionate, hydroxylamine disulfonate, amine trisulfonate, amine disulfonate, sulfamate, nitrosodisulfonate and mixtures thereof, or mixtures thereof, all now in the liquid phase for a time and at a temperature effective to reduce the concentration of the organic or inorganic compound present in the liquid;
CC. removing the liquid produced in step BB now reduced in content of the organic compound, the inorganic compound or combinations thereof;
wherein the yellow phosphorus is present in between about 0.01 and 20% by weight of the water and the organic compound or inorganic compound to yellow phosphorus is present in between about 0.01 to 10% by weight;
wherein in each of step AA and BB the reaction temperature is independently between about 43.degree. and 100.degree. C.;
and
wherein the ozone produced in step AA is reacted with the organic compound or inorganic compound for between about 0.1 and 500 minutes in either batch or a continuous flow contact system.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.