Apparatus and method for oxidizing organic materials
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsJeffrey E. Surma, Garry H. Bryan, John G. H. Geeting, R. Scott Butner
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Abstract
The invention is a method and apparatus using high cerium concentration in the anolyte of an electrochemical cell to oxidize organic materials. The method and apparatus further use an ultrasonic mixer to enhance the oxidation rate of the organic material in the electrochemical cell.
Claims19
A method of destroying a mixture of an organic phase in an aqueous solution, wherein said organic phase is converted to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an electrochemical cell having a cathode compartment and an anode compartment separated by a porous membrane;
- (b) providing an electrolyte solution of an acid selected from the group consisting of nitric acid and sulfuric acid with an oxidant that is substantially non-reactive with the aqueous solution at an operating temperature above about 70.degree. C. in an anolyte within said anode compartment;
- (c) emulsifying the mixture and increasing the surface area of the organic phase;
- and
- (d) flowing electrical current through said electrochemical cell and oxidizing said organic phase in said anode compartment.
An apparatus for destroying an organic phase within an aqueous solution, comprising:
- (a) an electrochemical cell having a cathode compartment and an anode compartment separated by a porous membrane;
- (b) cerium and an acid selected from the group consisting of nitric acid and sulfuric acid in an anolyte within said anode compartment, said cerium present in a concentration of at least about 0.5M;
- and
- (c) an agitating emulsifier that increases the surface area of the organic phase.
An apparatus for destroying organic materials, comprising:
- (a) an electrochemical cell having a cathode compartment and an anode compartment separated by a porous membrane;
- (b) an electrolyte solution having an acid selected from the group consisting of nitric acid and sulfuric acid with an oxidant;
- (c) an ultrasonic mixer for mixing the organic materials with the electrolyte solution into the anode compartment;
- wherein
- (d) flowing electrical current through said electrochemical cell oxidizes said organic molecules in said anode compartment to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O .
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.