THERMAL-CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF WASTE GASES

Thermal-catalytic oxidation, consisting of combined thermal and cataly tic processes, is proposed as a new method to neutralize waste gases. A comparison between the proposed two-step thermal-catalytic and catal ytic neutralization processes is done at temperatures ranging from 350 to 750 K. The efficiency of the neutralization of waste gases that is obtained by using the thermal-catalytic method is higher, compared wi th the efficiency of waste gas neutralization by using the catalytic m ethod. The observed difference ranges from 20 to 10%, as was found for model waste gas containing ethyl acetate, and from 10 to 5%, as was d etermined in the case of a toluene imitating toxic component of waste gases. In addition, the mechanism of the thermal-catalytic process is studied. The first step of this process, thermal oxidation, is shown t o influence the subsequent one, catalytic oxidation.