TRICHLOROETHYLENE SORPTION AND OXIDATION USING A DUAL FUNCTION SORBENT CATALYST IN A FALLING FURNACE REACTOR/

A dual function zeolite medium (Cr-ZSM-5), capable of physisorbing tri chloroethylene (TCE) at ambient temperature and catalytically oxidizin g it at elevated temperature (similar to 350 degrees C), was utilized in a novel continuous falling furnace reactor system to store and peri odically destroy this chlorinated volatile organic compound, For inlet feed streams between 50 and 1600 ppm of TCE in humid air, overall des truction levels were typically above 99%. Also, since the falling furn ace system required heating only during the desorption/reaction portio n of the process (5-10% of the cycle time), energy comparison with con ventional catalytic reactors is extremely favorable. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.