HYDROTHERMAL OXIDATION OF ORGANOCHLORINES

The hydrothermal oxidation of four organochlorines (perchloroethylene, 1,1,1 trichloroethane, trichloroethylene and dichloromethane) was stu died. This study aims at determining the influence of various paramete rs and the optimal conditions for obtaining the best oxidation yield i n the degradation process. The factors studied were reaction temperatu re, initial substrate concentration, reaction time, agitation speed an d volume of the solution in the reactor vessel. The tests were conduct ed following the methodology of experimental design. The results obtai ned show that these compounds are degraded rather easily in the workin g conditions. The degradation efficiency can reach 98% of the total or ganic carbon and 99.9% of the initial substrate concentration. The tem perature and the initial substrate concentration are the most influent ial factors on the oxidation process. The reaction time and the volume of the solution have a less interesting influence on the degradation yield in the experimental areas. Formic acid and methanol are the bypr oducts found in the final effluents. Their concentrations decrease con siderably when the reaction temperature is higher. The chlorine is fou nd essentially in the Cl- form.