Electrochemical cell for processing organic wastes

An electrochemical cell for performing mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) processes with separate anolyte and catholyte solutions comprising:

• a corrosion resistant housing which is formed in one piece as a monolithic structure with an opening left in an upper portion for a top plate;
• a top plate having a first port for inputting chemicals into the cell and a second port for outputting chemicals from the cell, said top plate fitted to said opening in the upper portion of the cell to allow the cell to be sealed;
• a plurality of electrode plates aligned in parallel within said housing so as to leave space between them for internal flow of anolyte and catholyte solutions from the bottom of the cell to the top, said electrode plates being capable of imparting an electrical charge to chemical solutions which come in contact with them;
• ion exchange membranes which are interposed between each set of adjacent electrode plates to physically separate the anolyte and catholyte solutions contacting said plates while allowing selected ions to pass between such solutions;
• ports on said top plate for separately inputting anolyte and catholyte solutions to be processed in the cell and ports on said top plate for outputting processed anolyte and catholyte solutions from the cell;
• internal input manifolds connected to said input anolyte and catholyte ports for taking inputted anolyte and catholyte solutions from the top of the cell to the bottom and then separately distributing such solutions upward so as to separately be in contact with separate reaction surfaces of said electrode plates;
• an internal output manifold connected to said output anolyte and catholyte ports for receiving processed anolyte and catholyte solutions which have come in contact with said electrode plates and removing them from said cell.

An electrochemical cell pack for performing electrochemical processes comprising:

• a corrosion resistant housing which is formed in one piece as a monolithic structure with an opening left in an upper portion for a top plate;
• a removable top plate fitted to said opening in the upper portion of the cell pack to allow the cell pack to be removably sealed;
• a plurality of electrochemical cells within said housing;
• an input manifold for receiving chemicals to be processed from outside of the cell pack and distributing said chemicals into each of said electrochemical cells;
• an output manifold for taking processed chemicals from each of said electrochemical cells and removing them from the cell pack;
• electrical cables for providing electrical current to each of said electrochemical cells from a source of electricity outside the cell pack.

A mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) process for treating hazardous organic wastes comprising the steps of:

• forming an anolyte solution from a metal catalyst, acid, water and hazardous organic waste;
• forming a catholyte solution from acid and water;
• selecting an effectively leakproof electrochemical cell with a plurality of charged electrode plates which can simultaneously process both anolyte and catholyte solutions;
• separately introducing said anolyte and catholyte solutions into said electrochemical cell;
• separately placing said anolyte and catholyte solutions in contact with said charged electrode plates to cause oxidation reactions in said anolyte solution and reduction reactions in said catholyte solution;
• keeping said anolyte and catholyte solutions physically separated in said cell except for allowing selected ions to be exchanged between said solutions;
• separately removing processed anolyte and catholyte solutions from said electrochemical cell.